Sheps Place Senior Dog Sanctuary
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Mistreatment and neglect are common problems for all pets, but older dogs are particularly vulnerable. They are more likely to be abandoned, and it is harder to find families to adopt them. We believe senior dogs deserve to live out their lives in a safe, loving environment. Municipal animal shelters work tirelessly to find abandoned dogs new homes, but they are only meant to be waystations. While there, dogs spend less than an hour a day outside their cage, and have limited human contact. Older dogs in shelters get passed over for puppies, and may spend months or even years in near isolation. We find senior dogs languishing in shelters and rescues, and give them the home they have lost, where they are free to run or sleep or hang out with friendly people.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Senior Dog Care
Provide a comfortable, safe home for abandoned senior dogs.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of animals with freedom to express normal behavior
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults
Related Program
Senior Dog Care
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals with freedom from fear and distress
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Senior Dog Care
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals rehomed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Senior Dog Care
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of animals provided with long term care
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Senior Dog Care
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We opened in April 2019, and did not have any dogs prior to that.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
The goal of Shep's Place Senior Dog Sanctuary Inc. is to operate a sanctuary for homeless senior dogs in the Kansas City area. We find old dogs in shelters and rescues that have been repeatedly passed over for adoption, and give them a place to live out the remainder of their lives in safety and comfort. We try to find new families for them, but if we can't, we are their family and home, for as long as they live.
Our long-term objectives are more ambitious. The initial facility is only meant to be Phase 1 of the project. It was designed to establish the organization, work out procedures, and prove to donors that we can manage resources and people effectively. Our current facility can comfortably hold at most 12 dogs. Having run Shep's Place successfully for almost 5 years now, we feel we've proven our sustainability, and are ready to make the case for expansion. To help more dogs, we want to build a new, larger, Phase 2 building, with a capacity of around 30 dogs. We have architects' sketches of the planned new building, which will connect to the current building. Such a project will require a major fundraising effort, and we are exploring ways to accomplish that.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Shep's Place was founded by Russell and Ann Clothier, who bought the house and land for the Sanctuary. Starting in 2018, we began recruiting volunteers. Renovations were completed in March of 2019, and we opened in April of that year.
For several years, we relied solely on volunteers. We have around 75 volunteers, and they fill four 2-hour shifts, 7 days a week. In recent years, we were able to add several part-time employees, who are responsible for feeding and medicating the dogs consistently and reliably. We had to develop and refine ways to communicate effectively with volunteers and employees, who come to the facility at different times.
Financially, we are supported entirely by donations. We receive contributions from several sources: Facebook, Instagram, PayPal, Venmo, Foundation grants, cash, and by check. We do some small scale fundraising events, but the majority of the funding comes from direct contributions.
After some initial turnover, our Board of Directors has been very stable, and heavily involved in day-to-day operations.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The fundamental strength of Shep's Place is the appeal of our cause. Many people have a soft spot for old dogs, and are happy to volunteer or donate to help them out. We are constantly bringing in new volunteers, while others move on, leaving us with a fairly constant number of 75 or so.
Over time, we have learned how to use social media to create a community of supporters. We keep our messaging upbeat, and focus on the dogs rather than on fundraising. We have over 11,000 followers on Facebook, which generates a large number of small donations. In 2022, we received over 1700 individual donations.
Since opening, we have been careful with our use of funds. Almost half of our budget goes toward vet bills and medical care. We have published wishlists on Amazon and Chewy, which helps immensely with cleaning supplies, dog toys and beds, food, and so on. We didn't consider adding employees until we had an established income history, and sufficient funds in the bank.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We incorporated in July of 2017, and were granted 501(c)(3) status.
We secured and renovated a building for the Sanctuary's use. The property is owned by Russell and Margaret Clothier, and is leased to the Sanctuary for a nominal monthly fee.
After earning Animal Shelter Licenses from the city and state, we opened in April of 2019.
In the 4 1/2 years since then, we have taken in 102 dogs. Their average stay at Shep's is 150 days.
We have found new adoptive families for around 75% of our residents.
Our Facebook page has grown to 11,000 followers.
We have maintained a volunteer base of about 75 people to help care for the dogs.
We have developed a consistent donor base, enough to keep us up and running.
In a recent poll in Pitch Magazine in Kansas City, we were voted the 2nd best area charity, in any category.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Sheps Place Senior Dog Sanctuary
Board of directorsas of 11/29/2023
Russell Clothier
Independence Public Schools
Term: 2017 - 2025
Burke Seigle Lisa
Susan Cole
Trish Herbig
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
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Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.