Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Lascon.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
KC PAWS, which stands for Kansas City Protective Animal Welfare Society, was founded in 2007 with a simple but powerful mission: to give dogs a second chance, no matter how difficult their situation. What started as a small, grassroots rescue effort has grown into a vital part of the Kansas City animal welfare community.
Over the years, we’ve evolved to meet the growing needs of both animals and people. As the demand for rescue work increased—especially in recent years with overcrowded shelters and a rise in owner surrenders—we expanded not only our capacity but our approach. Today, KC PAWS is a no-kill, dog-only rescue that focuses heavily on cruelty and neglect cases, often stepping in where other resources are limited.
One of the things that sets us apart is our commitment to each individual dog. We use a match-based adoption process to ensure the right fit, and we have a sanctuary program for dogs who may need longer to find their forever homes—we never euthanize for space. Every dog that comes through our doors is given the time, care, and support they need.
We’ve also worked to address the root causes behind pet surrender by offering low-cost services like daycare, boarding, grooming, and training, with all proceeds going back into the rescue. This allows us to support families in keeping their pets, not just rehoming them.
Today, we’re a small but dedicated team making a big impact—rehoming hundreds of dogs, responding to urgent rescue situations, and continuing to grow our outreach and education efforts in the community. Our journey has really been about adapting, staying committed to our mission, and doing whatever it takes to help dogs in need.
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—and in many ways, the challenges have intensified over the past few years.
One of the biggest shifts we saw came after COVID. During the pandemic, adoption rates were high, but as life returned to normal, we experienced a sharp increase in pet homelessness. Shelters and rescues became overwhelmed, and we began receiving an overwhelming number of owner surrender requests—often from families who truly didn’t want to give up their pets but felt like they had no other option.
At the same time, we’ve continued to face ongoing challenges in advocating for stronger animal cruelty and neglect laws. While we work closely with communities and, at times, law enforcement to help animals in crisis, the lack of stricter protections can make it difficult to intervene early or hold individuals accountable in meaningful ways.
Another major factor has been the rise in backyard breeding and puppy mills, especially driven by the popularity of designer mixed breeds. While those dogs are often sold for profit, many eventually end up in rescues like ours—sometimes with significant medical or behavioral needs after being bred in poor conditions.
On top of all that, the economic landscape has made everything harder. The cost of living has gone up across the board, and that impacts both the families we serve and our ability to operate. Veterinary care, supplies, and daily costs of caring for dogs have skyrocketed. At the same time, fewer families are in a position to adopt, and donations can fluctuate as people tighten their budgets.
Despite all of these challenges, we’ve remained committed to our mission. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s pushed us to be more resourceful, more community-focused, and more determined than ever to advocate for the dogs who need us most.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
KC PAWS (Kansas City Protective Animal Welfare Society) is a no-kill, dog-only rescue focused on helping the most vulnerable dogs—especially those coming from cruelty, neglect, and high-risk situations. We specialize in individualized care, making sure every dog gets the medical support, training, and time they need to truly succeed.
What sets us apart is our match-based adoption process and our sanctuary commitment. We prioritize the right fit over fast placements, and we never euthanize for space—dogs stay with us as long as it takes.
We also offer low-cost pet care services—including daycare, boarding, and grooming—with all proceeds directly supporting our rescue. These services not only help fund our work but also provide accessible resources for pet owners, helping keep dogs in their homes.
What we’re most proud of is our transparency, compassion, and willingness to take on the hard cases. We want people to know that KC PAWS is here for the dogs who need us most—and we’re committed to giving them not just a second chance, but the right one.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that you can’t do this work alone—rescue truly takes an army. Because of that, networking hasn’t just been helpful for us, it’s been essential.
What’s worked well is focusing on collaboration over competition. We’ve built strong relationships with other rescues, shelters, and community partners by showing up, being reliable, and looking for ways to support each other. One example is how we’ve turned our boarding services into a resource for other small rescues—offering low-cost boarding for their dogs in between fosters or while they’re waiting for placement. That’s helped create a kind of hub where organizations can lean on each other instead of operating in silos.
When it comes to finding a mentor, my advice is to look for people who are doing the work you respect and don’t be afraid to reach out. Some of the best mentorships happen organically through shared experiences and mutual support, not formal arrangements.
At the end of the day, networking in this field is really about building trust, staying connected, and remembering that everyone is working toward the same goal—helping animals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kcpaws.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kc.paws/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcmoPAWS/
