Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Klein.
Hi Amy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Four and a half years ago, I opened Lily’s Play-N-Stay off Main Street in Belton with one goal in mind — to create a place where pets with high anxiety or pets that don’t do well in a “traditional” boarding environment could feel safe, loved, and understood. Unlike traditional boarding facilities, we take an individualized approach to each pet in our care, ensuring their stay is as calm and comforting as possible.
About three years ago, during our slower seasons, I began reaching out to local animal shelters to see if there were any pets that could benefit from a change of environment. Without charging a fee, we started taking in two to four shelter pets at a time. What began as a small gesture of help soon became something much bigger. We realized that, without any formal program in place, we were naturally rehabilitating these dogs—helping them build confidence, trust, and stability so they could be adopted into loving homes.
That experience inspired the creation of Lily’s Rescue Rehab, our newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Lily’s Rescue Rehab is not a shelter—it’s a resource for shelters. We partner with organizations to take in dogs that are on euthanasia lists or deemed unadoptable due to behavioral challenges. Once in our care, our team—consisting of a veterinarian, a professional dog trainer, and dedicated pet care staff—works together to help each pet reach a point where adoption is possible.
Our mission is simple: to give every dog the chance they deserve to live a happy, fulfilled life in a forever home.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Although we love what we do, it hasn’t been without challenges. Building a team from the ground up for our dog daycare (Lily’s Play-N-Stay) took time, patience, and trust — but we now have an amazing group of people who share the same passion for animal welfare.
The hardest part now lies with Lily’s Rescue Rehab. Many of the dogs we take in come from rural shelters that simply don’t have the funding or resources to support the level of care these animals need. We charge a minimal nightly fee to offset basic staffing costs, but in reality, most of these shelters cannot afford to pay it. That means we rely heavily on fundraising and community support to cover medical expenses, training, and daily care.
For many of these shelters, euthanasia is their only option. Our mission is to make sure it doesn’t have to be. Lily’s Rescue Rehab exists to help these shelters help their pets — giving dogs a second chance when all other doors have closed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have spent all of my career working with animals. I use to manage veterinary hospitals and pet resorts before opening my own pet care business and non profit. I have always been known as that “crazy dog lady” and have always done whatever I can to help pets and people that need it the most.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love KC!! I moved away for a short time following my career and missed it so much. KC is an amazing place with amazing people. There is nothing I do not like about our city! People here care, and it is amazing to see our community rally together for all different needs.
Contact Info:
- Website: lilysplaynstay.com and lilysrescuerehab.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LilysPlaynStay and https://www.facebook.com/lilys.rescue.rehab/
