Our History

The Top of the World Pet Cemetery (now known as Wayside Waifs Pet Memorial Park) was founded in 1946. It was established to provide a service to people who wanted their pets put to rest in the peace and beauty of an established haven. More than 12,000 pets are interred on our three pet burial grounds making Wayside one of the largest pet cemeteries in the United States.

Wayside Waifs is a nonprofit humane society and animal shelter. It is not endowed or supported by local, state or federal funds, or national humane organizations. It is primarily supported by memberships, bequests, the pet cemetery, pet adoptions, and gifts from the public, businesses and foundations.

During the 1951 flood, Wayside was on duty day and night. In May of 1957, the agency participated in rescue work following the Ruskin Heights and Martin City tornado. Wayside patrolled these areas, bringing in injured and homeless animals. And again in 1993 when floodwaters were rising, Wayside met the challenge and accepted hundreds of animals in need. In recent years, Wayside has also participated actively in raids of illegally operated puppy mills. 

In December 2012, Wayside Waifs opened the doors of a newly expanded and renovated shelter veterinary clinic. The 47,000 square foot building can shelter hundreds of animals. Each year Wayside cares for thousands of abandoned, abused, and homeless pets. Wayside Waifs is a comprehensive animal welfare organization providing: animal rescue, shelter veterinary care, retail pet boutique, pet adoptions, off-leash dog park, humane education programs for more than 14,000 school children each year, volunteer opportunities, community outreach programs including vaccination clinics and pet food pantry, secure pet care for local domestic violence shelters, and pet memorial services and cemetery. 

In 2020 Wayside completed the $8.7 million Building Dreams and Transforming Lives Capital Campaign, which added 20,000 square feet to the campus. The project included an Education and Training Center (ETC) expansion and a stand-alone, second of its kind, Canine Behavior Center (CBC). The ETC supports a wide-variety of education and training initiatives for pets and people of all ages, hosts Camp Wayside, corporate volunteer groups, dog training classes, and other special events in support of the community. The CBC serves shelter animals that are shy, fearful, and have high-energy behaviors that benefit from custom behavior modification programming before being adopted into loving homes. 

Wayside Waifs is committed to finding homes for all adoptable pets. Wayside is the largest no kill pet adoption campus in Kansas City, helping more than 27,000 pets and people each year.  Wayside does not euthanize adoptable animals, and there are no time limits for animals in our care. Only animals suffering from significant medical issues or those that pose a danger are humanely euthanized. Wayside Waifs is proud to be a part of Kansas City’s no kill community.

Have a story to share? Did you adopt, volunteer, or just have a special memory? We want to hear about it! Share your story here.