How Pawportunities Became Pawportunities
Every organization has a beginning. Ours started with fostering, a young person's vision and the belief that even helping one animal could make a difference.
From Foster Home to Animal Rescue
In May 2018, Bentley Siems became involved in animal fostering. Over the months that followed, his family opened their home to cats, dogs, puppies and kittens needing a safe place while they waited for their next chapter.
The experience provided an up-close look at both sides of animal welfare: the difficult circumstances animals can face and the remarkable things people will do to help them.
Later that year, Bentley was named a Broadcom MASTERS finalist and received a monetary award. Rather than spending it on himself, he decided he wanted to use the opportunity to help animals.
One Opportunity Leads to Another
The idea was never that one person could save every animal. It was that every animal saved created another opportunity to help the next one.
Give Them a Chance
Animals come into rescue from many different situations. Pawportunities exists to create another option when an animal needs safety, care or simply someone willing to give them a chance.
Prepare Them for What's Next
Through foster care, veterinary care and everyday companionship, animals receive the support they need while preparing for the next chapter of their lives.
Create Another Opportunity
Every successful adoption creates room, resources and opportunity for Pawportunities to help another animal still waiting for a chance.
Built Around Foster Homes
Foster families have been part of the Pawportunities story from the very beginning.
Rather than relying only on traditional shelter kennels, foster homes allow many animals to experience everyday life in a home while waiting for adoption.
Foster families get to know an animal's personality, habits and needs in ways that can help create stronger matches with future adopters.
Rescue Is a Community Effort
Pawportunities has never been built around one person. Foster families, adopters, volunteers, veterinary teams, donors, community partners and supporters all play a role.
That network allows an animal-welfare organization rooted in Blue Springs to create opportunities far beyond the walls of a single building.
Learn About FosteringWhat Began as Rescue Has Grown Into Animal Welfare
Pawportunities has continued evolving as the needs of animals and the people who care for them have evolved.
Today, Pawportunities' work reaches beyond simply finding homes for rescued animals. Our programs are designed to address animal welfare from multiple directions — rescue and adoption, foster care, veterinary access, community assistance and services that help people care for the animals already in their homes.
The Mission Has Grown With the Need
Rescue remains at the heart of Pawportunities, but our approach has expanded to help animals and the people who care for them at multiple points in their lives.
Creating Second Chances
Pawportunities rescues animals in need, provides care while they prepare for adoption and works to connect them with families committed to giving them permanent homes.
Find an AnimalIncreasing Access to Care
Pawportunities' veterinary program supports animals in rescue while expanding access to veterinary services for pet owners and rescue partners in the community.
Visit Our ClinicServices That Support the Mission
Spaportunities provides mobile pet grooming while supporting the broader animal-welfare mission and helping create additional resources for Pawportunities' work.
Explore Mobile GroomingFrom an Idea to a Growing Community Mission
The Idea
After becoming involved in fostering, Bentley Siems uses money from his Broadcom MASTERS recognition to begin creating an animal rescue.
Cases That Defined the Mission
Rescue cases such as Incredible Journey demonstrate the organization's growing commitment to animals with extensive medical and rehabilitation needs.
A Larger Community Role
Pawportunities' role expands beyond traditional rescue, including a partnership providing animal control services for the City of Blue Springs.
Five Years of Pawportunities
Five years after the original idea, Pawportunities had grown far beyond the family foster effort where the story began.
The Story Continues
Pawportunities continues building an animal-welfare model centered on rescue, foster care, veterinary access, community services and partnerships that create more opportunities for animals and people.
Local Roots. National Reach. International Impact.
Pawportunities remains deeply connected to the Kansas City community where it began, while the animals, stories and supporters surrounding the organization now reach much farther.
Pawportunities animals have been adopted into homes in more than half of U.S. states. Our social community has grown to more than 115,000 followers with audiences in the United States and internationally, and Pawportunities stories have reached national and international media.
Explore Our Reach & ImpactEvery Animal Deserves an Opportunity.
Pawportunities has changed significantly since 2018. The organization is larger. The programs are broader. The reach is greater.
But the idea behind it remains simple: when an animal needs help, create an opportunity. When a family needs support, create an option. And when one life is changed, use that opportunity to help change another.
The Next Opportunity Starts With Someone Choosing to Help.
Adopt. Foster. Volunteer. Donate. Use our services. Share a story. Every way someone becomes involved creates another opportunity for an animal or family who needs one.