Pete & Mocha
Monday, September 6, 2010
By: Megan Garcia

Pete & Mocha

My Husband and I adopted Pete (formerly Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater) in January of 2007. He was a crazy pooch who had been in foster care and had even been adopted and returned once by a family. He was full of energy and not quite the petting-needy pup that most would want. We fell in love with his Happy-Go-Lucky attitude and took him home after we talked with his foster family (Kay and Skip) who felt all he needed was a second chance. He soon fell right into the family life. We took him to training classes and he loved getting treats for all his hard work and learned his commands quickly. 1 year later we decided to adopt a second dog. Even though we lived in Albuquerque, NM by then we drove Pete up and went back to Wayside. We quickly found Mocha (formerly Juliet) and loved her laid-back way of life. She and Pete make the perfect pair. She calms him down and he gets her active. We couldn't imagine our lives without either one of them. Pete is now out of his puppy years and now enjoys cuddling at our feet and getting back and belly rubs. Mocha loves going for runs and they both love hiking trips up the mountains.
What can I say... the staff was great, the dogs were great and if we decide on another dog we'll be driving back to KC!

Lucy and MoMo
Friday, August 27, 2010
By: ABBIE VELKER

Lucy and MoMo

We adopted Lucy (pointer/whippet mix) two years ago. She was two years old at the time, 20 lbs under weight, had papilloma and cysts on her skin. She loved to play and socialize, although she did not know how. Over time she warmed to us, but it became apparent she would not be truly happy without a companion. She was defiant and difficult to train, lethargic and uninterested in everything. So a year ago we adopted MoMo, a 7 year old miniature dachshund, who got along well with Lucy right off! We found MoMo was very high stress and suffered from seizures during the first 5 months. We continued to be as gentle and consistent as possible with both dogs and have seen transformations in them both! They have become the best of friends. MoMo follows Lucy around everywhere, they snuggle and play. Lucy has become very affectionate to my husband and I, and is now very happy and easy to train. MoMo, who was afraid of everything is now adventurous and has been seizure free for 8 months! We can't imagine our lives without our sweet dogs! They have been such a blessing to our home!

Sophie
Friday, August 20, 2010
By: jordan wandfluh

Sophie

My boyfriend and I were looking for the perfect puppy for months. Our heart was set on a Shar pei since I had one growing up and missed him dearly. We went to Wayside about a dozen times and checked the internet constantly. We even put a couple on hold thinking they were the rights ones but something just wasn't right. Then one day I was looking on the sight and saw those big tear drop eyes looking up at me and I told my boyfriend we had to go to Wayside Waifs that day. We were going to look at Sophie and a few other ones I jotted down as well. She was the first one we met that day. She came strolling in and sat on my lap. I knew she was the one.
It was a little hard at first for Sophie. She came into Wayside with her mom. They were found by a lake but over time she fit right into the family.
My life would be incomplete without Sophie. She was so easy to train that we potty trained her in one night. She doesn't chew on anything but her own toys and can be energetic and docile when need be. She is the most lovable puppy. We take naps together and swim together. She is the perfect companion.
We are now thinking Sophie needs a friend and will be back to Wayside when we are ready.

Cabo and Wabo
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
By: Connie Mertens

One of God's greatest gifts are animals.....they give us so much joy and contentment and only ask for love in return.

I had just moved to Missouri from Kansas and wasn't sure if I was ready for pets in my new place, until I met Cabo and Wabo. Two of the most personable kittens I have ever met. They were being fostered by a friend of mine(Kim Thompson) who helps Wayside in her spare time. After spending some time with this brother and sister pair, I knew I had to have them in my life. Cabo is the cream and white cat and is an ornery one, and even thinks he's part dog.....he fetches his little fuzzy ball and brings it back to me (who knew cats would do this). Wabo is the grey cat and loves to snuggle and follow you around the house. Life feels so much more complete with them in it and I would recommend Wayside to anyone who wants a lovable animal in their home.
Thanks again Wayside and Kim Thompson for the best cats I could ask for!

Lucy Lou & Little Ripper
Monday, August 9, 2010
By: JA Reynolds

Big Sis for little Ripper

When Ripper and I came to Wayside Waifs to find him a sister, we did not want a puppy- (Ripper is 1 1/2 now) so we asked to see a small dog, one that had been there for awhile and out came Lucy Lou-- Little LucyLou is now "Queen" of the sofa and little Ripper's heart!
We do have to watch LucyLou's diet as she will eat ANYTHING meat/crunchy and yummy-AND since she is so small we have to make sure she doesn't over do it! The first night we brought her home we got the big people pizza- We found out that LucyLou can FLY as she leaped into the air and bit off the end of my piece of pizza with one bite! And NO we don't feed our furry children people food -except steak and chicken-not pizza! So now LucyLou has manners and only eats her food plus little Ripper's cause he lets her-He is SO in love with her!

We were really worried about the potty training thing since the previous owner made a big deal out of it saying she needed alot of help with that...but LucyLou is really smart and pooped on the floor only once-the first day we brought her home.....after she ate the pizza and got the diarreha-LOL! She was no trouble at ALL to potty train- she just goes with Ripper out the doggie door to the pup yard and does her business----NO worries!
We were also concerned that Ripper would be too bossy with her- Not with LucyLou-she rules! He now has to be in the same room with her or he cries---poor little Ripper...
He's so lucky to have LucyLou for his sissy! What a perfect match she was for him- Thank you all for your rescue work- She was just what we needed for our family! JA Reynolds

Our sweet Sammie
Monday, August 2, 2010
By: Marlys McGee

Our sweet Sammie

We brought Sammie (Sparkle) home on July 30th. She fit right in. It was definately not the type of dog we went there to find but we fell in love with her. She is a lab/ pit mix (we think) and she is a sweetheart!! Thank you Waiside for bringing happiness into our lives!!

Sunshine and Shadow
Sunday, July 25, 2010
By: Deborah Haber

Thank you Wayside Waifs

Just wanted to update everyone on my wonderful babies from Wayside Waifs. By telling my stories, I hope someone can explain what might be causing my problems. First, I seem to be having problems getting up my stairs. Rarely, I am able to get upstairs without problems. Normally, I have to stop 1 to 5 times. That is because I have a cat (Shadow) who has to be kissed and loved all the way up the stairs. My other problem is crushing chest pains while sitting on my couch. That might be from to 2 cats who think they are tiny when they are actually about 12 pounds each. They both want to be on my lap! Sunshine is on my legs and Shadow is wrapped around my shoulder. I bless every day that I found those wonderful babies at Wayside Waifs!

Our family is complete!
Monday, July 19, 2010
By: Lindsay Spoeneman

Stewie is the best!

When my husband and I decided to get a dog, we proceeded cautiously, realizing what a huge commitment a dog is. I researched many adoption websites and found Wayside to be one of the best. We came in to look around on a Thursday and came back on a Saturday with a list of dogs we wanted to see. Stewie, then named Pongo was not a dog we noticed before, but we saw him Saturday and had to meet him. We were drawn to how affectionate he was and took a chance on him, even though he had just been brought in and they didn't know much about him or even if he was potty trained.
My husband was initially skeptical about getting a dog - of course being worried about chewing the furniture, accidents in the house, constant barking, and any other horror story he's heard about dogs. Stewie has defied the odds and every concern my husband had, and he has shown what a fantastic dog he is. We've had Stewie for 6 months now and he definitely completes our family. He gets along great with our finicky cat Pickles (they even snuggle). He did a wonderful job meeting our 4 and 5 year old nieces, and even our 1 1/2 year old God son. He loves to snuggle in the mornings and go to dog parks when the weather is nice. I could go on and on about what a wonderful dog Stewie is, but in the most concise way to convey this, Stewie is better than we could have ever hoped for. We are so thankful to Wayside Waifs for allowing us to meet our wonderful little guy!

Who could ask for anything more!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
By: Lanette Rippeto

Thank you Wayside!

Jackie became a member of our family for my birthday. She is a 7 year old rat terrier and everything about her is perfect. She knows tricks, completely housebroken, she behaves famously and she loves to play. I am so thankful to have her--and wish the best to her prior owner that had to give her up.  Thank you Wayside Waifs!

A 2ND CHANCE - FOR BOTH OF US
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
By: Diane Rogers

It was a second chance for Koda to find happiness in a loving home, and second chance for me to find happiness and heal after losing my 16-year pet companion, Contessa.

Thanks to modern technology, I was able to search online to find another dog that would be perfect for me. My German Shepherd/Malamute of 16 years had recently passed away (that I adopted at Wayside Waifs, by the way, back in 1994) and I was on a quest to find another dog like her. Being a mix breed, that was no easy task. Wayside Waifs had posted several pictures of Koda (then Granola), a Husky/Malamute mix, but it was the video of him playing in the water (much like Contessa used to do) that convinced me this was "my dog". I even told my co-workers that day, "I'm leaving work at 4:30pm to go get my new dog," to which they responded with surprise and then loving support.
While the initial meeting was less than warm, something happened when I told the volunteer I wanted to go ahead and adopt him. This was a very emotional experience for me since my precious Contessa had only passed away 1 month earlier. As I started to tear up, Koda came over, sniffed my head, then proceeded to lean on me. That was it - the moment I KNEW this was right. He hasn't left my side since.
I am very grateful for organizations like Wayside Waifs who make it possible for families to become whole and give abused and neglected animals a second chance at happiness. Thank you, once again, for helping me find the "perfect" companion.

Doofus
Saturday, June 12, 2010
By: Zach Robertson

In March of 2009, we adopted "Big Daddy" aka Doofus from Wayside Waifs. The 120 pounds of massive drooling dog we brought home has become a huge part of our family. He's our baby... all 120 pounds of him.

In March of 2009, we adopted "Big Daddy" aka Doofus from Wayside Waifs. The 120 pounds of massive drooling dog we brought home has become a huge part of our family. He's our baby... all 120 pounds of him.
When we came to Wayside Waifs, we walked through all of the animals and then we saw him. The big black guy with sad eyes just wanting to come home.. or be given a treat; we're not sure yet!
Doofus was taken back to the pound twice in his life and I still can't understand why. He is the world's best dog and definitely our best friend. So thanks Wayside Waifs for changing our lives for the better. We were the ones who got lucky, not him.

My Staff. From Max the Cat
Sunday, May 9, 2010
By: Melissa Fortmann

My Wayside Success Story

Dear Wayside: Thank you for helping me find a staff to wait on me. It has been 17 years, and they are still tending to my needs quite well. Oh, yes, there are occasions when I have been disappointed. In fact, I meant to write to you to complain that you sent a dog home with them a few years ago. I'm not sure where you, or they, had gotten the idea that I had requested one! Oh, well. He does keep the staff happy so that is one good thing about him. Well, off to my favorite chair for a nap! With much gratitude, Max Amillion the cat.

Meet Doug!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
By: Kristin Breitkreutz

Thank you Wayside!

My fiance and I adopted Doug (then Jax) back in November 2009. We had just moved that summer and wanted to add another addition to our family, and give our American Bully, Lola a good playmate. I went to Wayside's website and after seeing Doug's picture and reading his story, I knew we had to meet him. When we met him, he was very shy towards us, but all about Lola. When we saw how great Lola and Doug got along, he was already a member of our family. Doug has definitely warmed up towards us and has a great bond with Lola. Doug now spends his days playing keep away with Lola, going on daily walks, lounging on the couch, and "notifying" us (by barking) who all the bad guys are in any movie we watch. Doug is a true joy and brings us much laughter with his quirky personality and his hound dog howl. Thank you so much Wayside for giving us the pleasure to add another wonderful dog to our family. We truly love him from the bottom of our hearts.

What's NOT to love? . . .
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
By: Shannon Bohanan

Waldorf: the lovable, confident, scent-sniffing bloodhound

This dog is a hoot! Waldorf is doing GREAT in his first 10 days with us! He has a new best friend, our lab Huckleberry, whom we adopted at Wayside 3 years ago. The dogs are inseperable and wrestle pretty much nonstop. Waldorf is a lot of dog but he just needs a little training, a ton of exercise, and a dose of love -- all of which he is getting in our home. We LOVE and ADORE him for all his houndish ways. We could not have adopted a sweeter dog; he is a great snuggler and the perfect addition to our home!

Our First Dog Together
Friday, April 30, 2010
By: Jessica Werner

Thanks Wayside Waifs!

My boyfriend Kasey and I had just moved in together. After about a month of me begging to get a dog he decided to give in. So we looked on the Wayside Waifs website since I was new to Kansas. We found many dogs that we fell in love with. We went in and after noticing the dog we wanted had been adopted just minutes before we got in, we decided to still go look around and see if we could find another. I had one dog on my mind I thought was just adorable and was hoping she was still available. After looking into her kennel and seeing her, I knew she was the one for us. We actually held her that night and she wasn't really herself because she has just been fixed. But we decided to go ahead and put a deposit down on her. Let me tell you it was the best decision of our life. Bailey, formerly known as Bronx, is the best dog anyone could ask for. It was rough at first considering we were new in our relationship and now we had a two month old dog to potty train and teach. But she has been the easiest dog I have ever had to train. She picked up really fast from learning how to sit to learning how to speak. Her personality also fits in with ours because she is just the same as us. She just knows how to make us laugh everyday. Plus she is just the perfect dog to wake up to every morning. Full of energy and lots of love. I can honestly say she is just so amazing. Thank you Wayside waifs for her. She seriously turned from being a scared little dog to a dog that knows she has a home. We are very happy with our decision. And she is such a daddys girl. Thanks again!

Happy dog Houston
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
By: Lowana Caldwell

Thank you Wayside!

We are very happy to inform that Houston is a huge part of our growing family since day one.
He loves to go to the dog park to meet and play with many of his friends over there and he does so every day. He also loves to swim, play on water with his toys, retrieving them, going for long walks, etc.
He is the greatest dog ever, very friendly and loving one. We couldn't be happier with him. He is such a good boy. We can't thank you enough Wayside waifs for being part of our happiness.

Soul mates
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
By: Mike Irick

Thank you Wayside!

After a couple of not so good situations with dogs I had lost all hope that my son could ever be a dog lover.  After welcoming Zeke(a pointer) into our home, not only does 6 year old Mikie have a new soul mate, but he has even broken his fear of sleeping alone.The two are bunk mates, sharing a bed every night.
It already seems that Zeke has been a member of our family for years.  Thank you Wayside Waifs!

Who rescued who?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
By: Jennifer Horchem

Thank you Wayside!

I came into Wayside Waifs after seeing a dog from the shelter on tv one morning. I had been waiting for the perfect time in my life to get a dog ( I'd been waiting for six years) and for various reasons it was finally the right time. The dog was too big for where I was living, but I had been working with one of the staff and she thought they had the perfect dog. "Chloe" now Zoe was a rat terrier mix, who was the social greeter of the shelter. She ran and jumped from the lap to lap. Initially, I was very skeptical--thinking a terrier breed is too energetic for me. But, they assured me that she was quite calm, older (past the pup stage), and housebroken. I sat down to visit with one of the staff, and she jumped in my lap...and then my heart. Looking back, I can't imagine what my life was like. She's brought so much joy to my life and has made me a better person and healthier due to all of our walks. She's the best companion and exactly what I needed. My friends are jealous and can't believe how lucky I am for Zoe. Thank you so much Wayside Waifs, you really are the best matchmakers!

Riley "Chance"
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
By: Rachel Dautenhahn

This dog changed my life and she was the best thing to happen to me!

My fiance and I got Riley originally named "Chance" in november of 2009. Since then she has changed our lives in so many ways and I cannot imagine our lives without her. She is so inquisitive and so excited all the time that she brightens our day every time we are around her. When we first took her home from Wayside she was very timid and scared. If you would walk near her or try and pet her with your feet she would snap and run away. She always thought that you were going to kick her. Her comfort level in our home has completely changed and she has grown to be such an important member of our family. Thank you Wayside! You have given so much to our lives!

Best Dog EVER -- Robinson!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
By: Christy Schaper

Thanks Wayside Waifs

I had the privilege of being Robinson's foster mom. Our dog had passed away quite a few months ago, and we weren't quite ready to adopt another yet, so we were filling in the hole by fostering...
Robinson fit right in to the family. He is six but has SO much energy you would think he was a puppy. He lets Karl the cat play with his tail and follows Karl around licking him sometimes!
I fell in love hard and knew Robinson had to become a permanent member of the family. He is the perfect dog! He is a great guard dog and makes me feel very safe. He loves to play fetch (only in the house, though) and likes to be brushed. He is getting much better at walking on a leash so I have been able to start running with him. We do great until a ninja squirrel comes along...
I am so fortunate to have such a wonderful companion. He's lying on my feet right now! (Our trip to Petsmart was tiring!) I love him dearly and am so glad to have him in my life!

Simon says "I'm happy"
Saturday, March 6, 2010
By: Jason Krout

Thank you Wayside Waifs!

We adopted Simon (was Humperdink) in February of 2008. He was a mill rescue and was not in very good shape. His fur was rubbed off his sides and hind quarters. Every rib and vertebrae could be seen easily. He also has a circumfrentual scar on his neck from a rope or chain tying him down. His first week with us, he had a seizure while my wife was home with him, we presume from some head trauma. He would rarely leave his safe spot and (I've never witnessed this) has no idea that a treat was OK for him to take. Today, Simon is a top notch dog. He is a complete mama's boy and although he still has an occasional seizure, they are mostly controlled with daily medication. and the vet says he is a perfect weight. The scar is the only mark left over from his traumatic past, but we think it is a badge of honor symbolizing his strength and resiliance.

Maggie
Friday, March 5, 2010
By: Anna Christian

Our Adorable Mutt

Back in September 2009, my family and I went to Wayside Waifs to look at some of the adoptable dogs. As we walked through the aisles, we saw many wonderful dogs that we liked. When my sister and I stopped at Zsa Zsa's kennel she started licking our hands nonstop. She seemed so sweet so we wrote her name down on our list. When we interacted with her she immediately started playing with us, and she proudly demonstrated how she knew how to sit for a treat. The Wayside volunteer explained how she was a very bright little pup and would be easy to train. After a night of thought, my family decided to adopt Zsa Zsa (now named Maggie).
When we brought her home we showed her around the neighborhood and she loved it! She's always looking out the window watching what's going on outside. Maggie loves to play with the other dogs on our street and run around in the backyard. But she also enjoys lounging around the house too! Maggie is a wonderful dog and we just want to thank all of the volunteers at Wayside Waifs that helped make her a part of our life.

Crazy lady
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
By: Jennifer Sheets

Unknown Maine Coon Mix girl finds a home, a brother, and a sister!

I had been watching the Wayside website for a possible maine coon or Maine Coonmix cat since we lost our own black smoke Maine Coon mix. I spotted Talia on the site and went down to meet her. She stole my heart right away! She was cuddly and needy, playful and absolutely adorable. I couldn't go home with out her, so I didn't!
I brought Talia home and she immediately put her foot down on my male red tabby and my foster Maine Coon mix who didn't play well together (no fights just different play styles). She came in stalked out the litter box then came back to the boys and was like all right boys, I'm here we play! From that day until my foster went to his forever home the two boys played well together! Go Talia!
I am sure she lived feral for awhile as even to this day if something scares her (and not a lot does except claw trimming) she goes into a fight mode that you can't touch her at all. Between this and her run amok play modes is why she has gotten the nick name crazy here at home! She is most independent and while her nose shows her mixed side (too narrow for a MC) her love of water comes out when one is in the shower. She will happily join you (yes completely) in the shower to play with the water as it falls at your feet.
She's now been with us just over a year and I have to say she has been a great addition to our family. Since we brought her home she's gained a MC mix sister and while they pretend to "hiss" and hate each other my husband and I often find them playing a fun game of chase across and back across the living room with no claws out or furr flying! Tricky girls!
And while being all "grown" up she still comes up for that cuddle that she showed me the first day, full of purrs and happy feet!
Thank you Wayside for bringing such a crazy loving lady into our lives!

Best Buds
Sunday, February 28, 2010
By: Jenna Russell

Thanks Wayside Waifs!

I moved to Kansas City from my hometown 6 hours away. I had only a few friends and missed my family. I decided to explore the option of adopting a dog, and chose to go for it after the New Year. In October, I heard about Wayside and checked out their website. It was then that I saw Buddy's profile on the Available Pets page. I knew as soon as I saw his picture that he was the dog for me. I debated because I really did want to wait until the New Year, but I couldn't resist that crazy wagging tail. I met Buddy on a Saturday afternoon, and took him home the following Wednesday. He's the best friend a girl could ask for. I'm always greeted home from work by a happy wagging tail, I have a cuddle companion on cold evenings, and somebody to take walks with on sunny afternoons. Buddy's an old man (9 years old) but he has the heart of a pup. He loves to play in the evenings but happily naps the day away while I'm at work. I'm so happy I learned about Wayside and chose to look them up!

Ozzy, the Magnificent!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
By: Richard Ripley

Thanks Wayside Waifs!

Ozzy, was just meant to be with us! We saw his picture while on the Wayside Waifs website one day and fell in love. The family loaded up and we went to Wayside, we even brought his picture so you would know exactly who we were there for. Fortunately Oz was still there even though someone else had just been in to look at him. It took about 2 minutes to decide he was what our family was missing! What a great dog! He loves to play tug of war with his toys and then we chase him around the dining room table and he runs until he can't any longer. He sits on my lap every night and covers up with my blanket (it's really his, but we are having a territory dispute!) He is soooo cute, and as my son says "who doesn't love Ozzy!" Oz loves his walks, if we get the leash, he spins in circles until we hook him to it and open the door. Then you would think he owns the world, prancing down the street to explore the neigborhood. He is so proud to show off his humans!! Oz is definitely the bright spot in all of our days when we come home and he is waiting wagging his tail (I guess you call it wagging, it moves, even though it's laying across his back). Thanks Wayside Waifs for bringing OZ to our lives!

Oh, Ralphie
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
By: Mairnee Manring

Our sweet kitty!

After the passing of my cat in the beginning of summer 2009, I was left with a big void in my life that needed to be filled. My parents left for a long vacation in June, and while they were gone I convinced my two sisters in Kansas City to take me to Wayside Waifs to look at the kittens. I had heard many great things about Wayside Waifs before and couldn't wait to go look! We walked around and around checking out all the cats, trying to decide which one belonged in the family. I liked all of them, of course. But when my eyes fell on Ralph, I knew he was special! He laid quietly in his box and barely opened his eyes while we stood and looked him over. Just what I needed, a lazy cat! He was so soft and his markings were beautiful, so it was settled. I brought Ralph home and we became instant siblings. Now while I'm away at school, his days are mostly spent sleeping, eating, sleeping, and running around aimlessly. I can never wait to go home and love on him! Though sometimes he can act pretty crazy, we all love him and were so happy to give him a warm home. Thanks so much, Wayside, for giving me my feline friend!

Bashem
Monday, January 25, 2010
By: Jennifer Ayre

Thank you Wayside!

My husband and I were looking for a dog to get for our kids for Easter last year, when we stumbled upon the Wayside Waifs website and found Bashem our Husky/Border Collie Mix. He has been so good with our kids and very kind and gentle. The first day he came to the house, our kids then four and 3 1/2 months were always near him. While our oldest was on top of him talking up a storm our youngest would be on the floor playing with his tail, he would shake it in her face just to hear her laugh.
He always slept downstairs by the front door, but when my husband deployed he began sleeping at the top of the stairs between all the bedrooms. I would wake up in the middle of the night and hear him wandering around into each bedroom to check on all of us then go back to the head of the stairs and lay back down.
Bashem is the best dog my husband and I have ever had and we are so lucky to have him. I have only heard him bark twice and that was when a stranger came to close to him and I on our evening walk. We could never ask for a better dog. Thanks to Wayside Waifs our family is complete!

Senior Dogs
Thursday, January 14, 2010
By: Karen Owens

Flo

We went to your web site in April of 08 looking for a new friend to add to our family. We saw a featured pet, her name was Flo. She was a boxer and was 7 years old. Well, we have always had boxers in our family but the age of Flo scared me. So I convinced myself and husband to go to visit her the next day. We walked in to wayside waifs with not a lot of high hopes. So we asked one of the staff about Flo and she said she was still available, would we like to meet her. So the staff took us back to see Flo and the minute I saw her I was nervous. She just laid in her kennel. Her tail did not wag and she seemed to care less for visitors. My husband said she was not the one for us but I wanted to give her a chance. The staff member then said Flo had been there awhile, probably because she was a senior dog and she's pretty quiet and shy. So I asked the staff member if we could play with her in a private room. This is when someone had to have switched dogs because the minute the staff opened the door, a perky, tail wagging dog came right to us. We then sat with Flo to see how she felt about us and she melted our hearts with kisses and love. So, we took her home that day and now it's been 2 years since we adopted her and she is the love of our life. She hogs the bed at night, snores and has claimed the couch and our hearts. We could never imagine our life without her. Thank you so much for the work you do and for giving older dogs a good home. I am sure Flo appreciates it too. 

Little Boy is finally home!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
By: Linda North

Beautiful shy kitty finds loving home.

This is my 3rd cat I have adopted from Wayside through the years. I wouldn't think of getting a kitty anywhere else. When I first saw my Little Boy he was so shy and so scared. I knew after spending just a few moments with him he was the cat for me. I took him home, he never moved or made a noise in the carrier on the way home. He stayed under the bed at home for 6 days and nights. When he finally came out it was for very short periods of time and still runs under the bed if anyone but me comes into the house. I don't know what his life was before Wayside but he is very happy and safe here and I love him so very much. Thank you for this beautiful animal that needed me as much as I needed him.

The Luce Goose
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
By: Tamra Tesch

Thanks Wayside Waifs!

Miss Lucy was adopted a little over three months ago and we are still doing great. She has been nicknamed "Goose" by my boyfriend as a term of endearment. She is the best dog a person could ever ask for! She loves to cuddle, go to the park, and I think snow is her new favorite thing on earth! She also loves running errands with me. She is so good I can take her any where, from car rides to the bank or sitting on an outside patio at a restaurant. I'm so happy Wayside Waifs was able to bring us together because now my little family seems complete. Thank you so much!

Sallie
Saturday, December 26, 2009
By: Beth and Bobby Wroe

Thank you Wayside Waifs for our girl Sallie.

Our lives have changed for the better since Sallie (previously Sally) came to us back in August. She has been such a wonderful addition and we cannot really recall what life was like before her. Boring is always the answer.
Sallie only had one accident the first night she was home but other than that potty training went very smoothly. She loves walks, wrestling, chase, tug of war, cuddling and any fuzzy dog toy she can get her paws on. She is super smart and has learned very quickly different tricks such as sit, down, shake, up, roll over, pretty please and get on your pillow. She knows the words outside, eat, park, bed and the one she has learned a little too well, bath. When my husband or I come home, we love the big smile she has as she runs to the door to greet us. She does very well with other dogs and is so cute and much more confident as she plays chase and tries to wrestle with her bigger dog buddies at the dog park. Her grandparents adore her and she has been incredibly spoiled with lots of fun new toys and treats over the holiday. We also celebrated her 1 year birthday this month and we look forward to celebrating a lot more with her.
Thank you Wayside Waifs for what you do! Thank you to the staff, volunteers and vets. You all were so helpful! Without your dedication we would not have found our little girl.

Skitter
Sunday, December 20, 2009
By: jan odell

Happy Holidays

Dear Wayside Waifs Staff and Friends:
Mom is helping me write to you as she promised I'd do. My name is Skitter (formerly Brownie). Mom came and got me just before Thanksgiving and I'm doing GREAT. I'm already housebroken, with only one accident the entire time. I can also go for walks on my leash, sit, lie down, and stay (as long as mom only goes about 7 feet away). I have one brother and one sister, they are cats. They don't like to play with me and I've learned they have these sharp claws so I stay my distance.  During the week I go to work. I'm in charge of deer and rabbit control on over 300 acres. Mom goes with me and we patrol in the morning and in the afternoon. I walk over 2 miles a day. So far I haven't seen any deer or rabbit. (They are there she just doesn't see them. So much for the Beagle Mix!) The rest of the day I help around the office and take naps. When we get home I go for a walk on my leash and patrol the neighborhood. There is so much to do!
Thank you for taking such good care of me while I was there and helping me find my mom. Have a great holiday season and safe New Year.
Your friend always,
Skitter

Daisy
Thursday, December 17, 2009
By: virginia schlueter

Sweet Kitty!

On 12/12/2009 my boys and I came out to Wayside to check out three kitties. After visiting with Daisy we decided she was the one for us. Her personality matched that of our current kittie, Harley. (on the table)
Little by little, Daisy and Harley are growing use to each other and getting a little closer. Once in a while Daisy will pass by Harley with nothing more than a glance, other times it's a womanly hiss.
I just want to thank Daisy's previous owner for raising such a loving kitty! And know that she's being well spoiled!!

Christmas cheer!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
By: Wendy Rowan

Thank you Wayside Waifs!

We went to Wayside Waifs on October 1, 2009 looking for a small house dog to calm our children's fears about dogs. We didn't find what we were looking for in the smaller dogs, but when we walked through the large dog section we saw Mojo (aka: Bullet/Yellow Lab) who looked very depressed and had medical papers stuck to his kennel our hearts went out to him. Our meeting with him was very uneventful, he just sat there and refused to make eye contact. After we decided to make him part of our family, we discovered that he had been shot 4 times in Kingston, MO, and had a severe case of heart worms. He was still recovering from both, which explained a lot about his behavior. His mellow behavior allowed our children to overcome their fear of dogs immediately! Mojo had some difficulty walking the first few days due to two months of inactivity from the gunshot wounds and heartworms; however, once he got his clean bill of health he regained his strength and now runs like the wind! He was already house trained and is attention motivated; he follows family members around the house asking for lots of love, which he gets! On December 2, 2009 we brought home Daisy (aka: Scarlet/Beagle) so that Mojo could have a companion that would teach him to loosen up and have fun, as he always seemed too calm. Daisy is truly wonderful and gets along very well with Mojo, and has encouraged him to run and play games! Both dogs have been a wonderful addition to our family, we're very grateful to Wayside Waifs!

A circle of cats
Monday, December 7, 2009
By: Melinda Boeh

Fifteen years ago, I picked out a kitten at Wayside for my son's 5th birthday. Fifteen years later, he did the same for me for Christmas.

In 1994 our son turned 5, and ALL he wanted was a kitten. We visited Wayside Waifs and selected an adorable black kitty, who became part of our family instantly. She passed away in the summer of 2008, and I just couldn't make myself get another. For Christmas last year, both my sons visited Wayside Waifs and got me a gift certificate for a cat. I cried when I opened it and could barely wait until the next day when they were open so we could all go and select our newest family member. "Tiny" was a little over a year old, and was so calm and sweet - we all instantly fell in love with her. She loves our rescue Boxer and Border Collie/Welsh Corgi mix and they love her. Good things always come from Wayside Waifs!

A kitten at heart
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
By: Luna Green

Bentley

We entered the front door of Wayside Waifs in January of 2009, originally looking for a kitten for my little sister for her birthday. I,her older sister, already had a kitten of my own(my kitty gigi). My little sister desperately wanted a baby that she could call hers. They looked at all the kittens, playing with them and holding them, cooing at their small size. Bentley came waltzing up to my sister's side and began to love on her, rubbing against her legs and so forth. He was a bit older, and not a little kitten like she wanted. At first my sister was a little hesitant. Bentley continued to woo her and finally won her over.
He is now a part of our family, and we love him oh so much!!! Were grateful to have him.
Thank you Wayside Waifs!

Our little Princess...
Saturday, November 14, 2009
By: Holly Hilton

Thank you Wayside!

When we first went to Wayside something about Princess caught our eye. Maybe it was the fact that she was a Pit Bull mix and that Pit Bulls are close to our hearts since we already own a pit bull named Slugger or maybe it was the fact that when I walked by her kennel she shoved herself as close to the front of the kennel as she could so I could reach in and pet her. We just knew we couldn't leave that day without taking Princess home. We brought Slugger that day to make sure they got along and immediately they just clicked. Since we brought her home we changed her name to Addison or Addy as we call her and she is adjusting wonderfully. She brings out the best in Slugger and it is like having 2 new dogs because he is so much happier now that he has a baby sister. I have never seen two dogs play and cuddle as much as Addy and Slugger, they complete each other. We are lucky to have found such a gem. Thanks Wayside for taking wonderful care of her and helping us find our missing piece to the family.

Denver
Friday, October 30, 2009
By: Anna Collins

Denver

After losing our oldest family dog a year ago we thought it was time to adopt and add to our family. Our dog, Vedder (the yellow lab) was ready to have a brother/sister and our children were ready to have another playmate. We had been looking for several weeks at various shelters and on websites to find just the right dog. We found Denver (the black lab/pointer) on the Wayside Waifs website and quickly decided we needed to go visit him. Our family went first and we knew that Denver was great by the way he greeted us. Now the next step was to see if Vedder would agree with us....he did. Denver is now home with us and it's be WONDERFUL!
We quickly learned how much Denver loves to snuggle and be loved, within 1 day he was on our bed at night time. He is incredible with our girls as they love to hug and lay on him. And Vedder...well he finally has his spark back thanks to Denver! They love being outside together and Denver LOVES all the animals in the backyard (i.e. squirrels). What a blessing he is to our whole family!

Lovely Grace
Thursday, October 15, 2009
By: Rachael Soto

Lovely Grace

Our Baby Boy
Saturday, October 3, 2009
By: Sarah Ruhl

Our Baby Boy

So far so good!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
By: Tamra Tesch

So far so good!

Spaniel Love
Saturday, September 5, 2009
By: Karen Hall

Loveable Puppy

Meet Bailey (with Max)
Friday, August 21, 2009
By: Vivianne Glenn-Hough

Meet Bailey (with Max)

Annie
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
By: Abby Kendall

We rescued Annie, a Golden Retriever mix, from Gladstone, but we did rescue 3 kittens from Wayside.

Jack
Thursday, July 23, 2009
By: Erika Crofut

Jack

Completed our lives
Monday, July 20, 2009
By: Cally Gannan

Completed our lives

My Little Deaf Boy
Monday, July 20, 2009
By: Olivia Nelligan

Puck

I adopted Puck on July 19, 2009, a Sunday, from Wayside Waifs in Kansas City, MO. I had been looking to adopt a dog for awhile now, as I had done tons of fostering and felt my husband and I were ready for the commitment. We searched through shelters all throughout the Kansas City, MO area and had attended a lot of mobile events.  I finally decided it was time we visited Wayside Waifs. My husband and I arrived on Saturday, July 18, to look and browse through dogs. We went up and down each aisle and I wrote down the name of several beautiful dogs that seemed to fit what I "wanted."
I finally came to the last aisle, almost missing Tobi (now named Puck) because he was on the other side of his pen. Right as I was about to walk away he bounced up to the front of the kennel and snagged my attention. Although he was adorable with his two big ears and beautiful mismatched eyes, he hardly fit any qualifications that I thought I was looking for in a dog. However, something drew me to him and I wrote him down on my list of dogs to "look at."
I interacted with Tobi first and they explained to me that he was deaf and how he might go blind in the future.  It didn't matter to me if a dog was blind, deaf, dumb, or even missing limbs I was there looking for a dog based on personality and was willing to work with any "quirks" that dog might have. I was still unsure, so I interacted with other dogs and by the end of the day decided that it was time to go.
We went home and that night I sat looking at the Wayside Waifs website at Tobi's pictures, re-reading his description.  Later than night I dreamed about him.
The next day, Sunday, we went to some other shelters but in the back of my mind Tobi kept popping up and I felt that we should go back to Wayside Waifs.  Once again, I looked at several other dogs and once again I was drawn back to the adorable little boy. Something just clicked, and after a lot of discussion and debate I decided that Tobi was the one for me!
My husband and I adopted him, and brought him home with us that day. The staff was so nice and helpful, and really worked with us to make sure we got everything we needed to take care of him.
Tobi is now named Puck. He is my wonderful little deaf boy who is the brightness in my day. He has been quick to learn, and has not had any accidents in the house. He slept with us in our bed the night we brought him home, and he has done nothing but show us what it means to love. Tobi has taught me patience, courage, and I've learned that what you "want" in a dog and what you "need" aren't always going to be the same thing.
Thank you Wayside Waifs! 

Uli and Kevin
Friday, July 17, 2009
By: Lauren Veach

Uli and Kevin

First time cat owners
Sunday, June 21, 2009
By: toni balistreri

First time cat owners

Pancho is Home
Monday, June 8, 2009
By: Susan Brown

Pancho is Home