Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Burrows.
Hi Emily, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Even as a little girl I had a deep connection with animals, and I knew I wanted to open my home to fosters from the moment I heard that it was something shelters/rescues did. In early 2017, I began volunteering with The Rescue Project, a small, volunteer-run animal rescue. I had my heart set on fostering small dogs since my husband and I had two small senior pups at home. I waited several months without finding the right foster match. Then, one random night in July when I could not sleep, I was on The Rescue Project’s volunteer Facebook page scrolling through posts, I saw her: Bailey, a young American Bully with the saddest eyes, in need of immediate foster care after spending her entire life outside on a chain in the middle of a hot Kansas City summer. By 7 p.m. that night, Bailey was in my car, headed for what was likely her first bath and her first night in air conditioning. At 55 pounds and about a year old, she was far from the “small” dog I’d imagined—but I knew that she needed help, so we were going to make it work.
It turned out that Bailey struggled with reactivity around other dogs, so I reached out to trainer Jamie Williams-Stewart, owner of Doggsense by Jamie, who became both a mentor and a friend. As Bailey and I worked through our challenges together, I began helping in Jamie’s classes, where I became fascinated by canine behavior and the incredible transformations that happen when dogs are given patience, structure, and understanding.
Through all of that, Bailey and I formed a bond unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. She stood by me through some of the hardest moments of my life, including the loss of my brother to suicide in 2018. In the months that followed, Bailey seemed to know exactly when I needed her to comfort me. She became a constant source of unwavering loyalty and unconditional love. Looking back I know that Bailey didn’t just change my life – she changed the direction of it.
Today, nearly ten years later, my husband and I have fostered several dogs, who have all had behavioral challenges, and our home currently includes our three dogs (Bailey, Joey Tribbiani and Tyra Banks), and our current foster, Penny. While fostering is what got me into animal rescue, my greatest passion has become community outreach. As Director of Outreach for The Rescue Project, I’ve discovered that some of the most meaningful work in animal welfare doesn’t happen after an animal enters the rescue/shelter system – it happens long before that. While outreach does expose us to some really terrible and heartbreaking things, it also gives us the opportunity to help keep pets with the families who already love them. The Rescue Project’s outreach team helps support the underserved communities throughout Kansas City by providing food, shelter, education, connections to affordable veterinary care and other supplies. Every week, our outreach team meets people where they are, helping remove the barriers that can force families to surrender their pets. Seeing the impact of preventing that heartbreak before it happens makes the sad parts worth it.
I didn’t realize when I took Bailey off of her chain that she was giving me my purpose. Everything I’ve been able to do with The Rescue Project, from fostering to outreach, began with one not so small dog who needed someone to say yes.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Animal rescue is incredibly rewarding, but it’s also emotionally draining and financially challenging.
In 2020 the pandemic changed everything. Since then, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the number of families struggling to care for their pets. At the same time, donations have slowed while the cost of everything—food, veterinary care, medications, and supplies—has continued to climb. “Petflation” is very real, and small, volunteer-run rescues like The Rescue Project feel those increases every single day.
One of the hardest parts is knowing that many of the people we meet truly love their animals. They’re not giving them up because they don’t care—they’re facing circumstances like job loss, rising housing costs, unexpected medical bills, or other life challenges. It’s heartbreaking to know that something as simple as a bag of dog food or a doghouse can be the difference between a family keeping their pet or feeling like they have no other option.
That’s why our outreach program has become such an important part of our mission. Instead of waiting until an animal enters the rescue or shelter system, we meet people where they are and help remove the barriers that put pets at risk. We provide food, shelter, supplies, and education, helping families understand the importance of preventative veterinary care, spaying and neutering, heartworm prevention, proper shelter, and responsible pet ownership. We also connect owners with low-cost veterinary resources and other community services, making care more accessible for families who want to do the right thing but don’t always know where to turn or have the financial means to do it.
The need continues to grow, and there are days when it feels like we’re trying to empty the ocean with a teaspoon while its raining. But seeing a pet stay healthy, remain with the family that loves them, and avoid entering the rescue or shelter system is what its all about. Every family we help today has the potential to prevent future suffering, reduce pet overpopulation, and strengthen our community tomorrow. That is exactly why this work matters.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I wish I could make animal rescue my full-time job. Honestly, it’s where my heart lives and if I could survive on dog snuggles, kitten nudges, and tail wags, I’d do it in a heartbeat. But the truth is, running outreach and fostering for a nonprofit doesn’t pay the bills. By day, I’m a supervisor and paralegal at a law firm in Overland Park, where I have worked for the past 15 years. While it’s very different from animal rescue, it’s given me valuable leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills that I use every day in my volunteer work. I’m also incredibly fortunate to work for a firm that has always supported my commitment to The Rescue Project and understands that serving our community extends beyond the office. That support has allowed me to dedicate my time and heart to The Rescue Project and its mission for nearly a decade.
While I enjoy my career, my heart truly lies in animal rescue. I serve as the Director of Outreach for The Rescue Project, a 100% volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of animals in and around Kansas City’s most underserved communities. Our outreach program is built on trust. We work alongside pet owners by providing essential resources and just as importantly, we focus on education – helping families understand the importance of spaying and neutering, vaccinations, heartworm prevention, proper shelter and responsible pet ownership while connecting them with affordable veterinary resources.
What I’m most proud of is that The Rescue Project is helping shift the conversation around animal welfare. Rescue isn’t only about finding homes for homeless or neglected pets and delivering supplies — it’s about strengthening the bond between people and their animals before a crisis happens. We are building relationships with the people we help. Many families simply need someone to listen, answer questions without judgment, and help them access resources they didn’t know existed. We meet people where they are, because lasting change only happens when people feel respected, supported, and empowered – not judged. By supporting people, we are able to keep more pets healthy, safe, and in the homes where they are already loved.
This work isn’t about titles or paychecks. It’s about showing up, every day, for the pets AND people who need us most.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
I don’t know that I have one favorite childhood memory. Instead, I have a collection of memories that all point to the same thing—I was always the kid who loved dogs.
My parents knew from an early age that I loved animals, but I’m not sure they realized just how deeply. I was the kid who cried during the ASPCA commercials, and if I’m being honest, I still do. I never understood how anyone could see an animal in need and simply keep walking.
Looking back, I realize those moments helped shape who I am. I wasn’t just drawn to animals—I was drawn to helping. I wanted to be the person who stopped, who cared, and who showed up.
When I first started volunteering with The Rescue Project, I thought animal rescue was all about saving dogs from abuse and neglect. After spending time on outreach, my perspective completely changed. I realized that if you help the people, you’re also helping the animals. Sometimes the most impactful thing you can do isn’t finding a dog a new home—it’s making sure they never have to lose the one they already have. That lesson has become the foundation of everything we do at The Rescue Project.
Today, every time I load the outreach van, welcome a scared foster dog into my home, or connect a family with food or answer their questions, I think I’m honoring that little girl who always believed every animal deserved someone who would stop and care. It turns out she was right.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.therescueproject.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therescueprojectkc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCRescueProject
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@therescueprojectkc
