Lily’s Rescue Rehab (LRR) is a brand new facility in Belton, MO in the Kansas City Metro area that will help rehabilitate dogs that aren’t getting adopted at shelters, some of whom are on a euthanasia list. They provide training, socialization, medical assistance, and holistic therapies for pain, anxiety and stress. Most of all they provide the love that takes to build self confidence and create couch potatoes and forever loving companions out of traumatized and misunderstood dogs, most of whom have never been on a couch before or in a situation where they knew love and had agency in their lives.

This facility and program was created by Amy and Justin Klein who own Lily’s Play-N-Stay (LPNS), a pet boarding and daycare facility also in Belton, MO. Using this program for the last 2+ years at the boarding facility they have been able to rehabilitate 22 last chance shelter dogs and helped to find forever homes for them giving them the second chance to live the lives that they deserved. Lily’s Play-N-Stay was helping to fund the construction, pay staff, pay for utilities and other fees like insurance and taxes for the non-profit Rescue Rehab which has the capability to rehabilitate 28 shelter dogs at a time.

A recent fire at Lily’s Play-N-Stay has made it so they are not able to do boarding and daycare at that facility. Without that income they will not be able to support the 15 families of the people that work there. They will also not be able to pay the construction loans for Lily’s Rescue Rehab that are now due.

The fire at LPNS, which happened in the early morning hours, was quickly discovered through alarms that alerted staff and the Belton Fire Department. Belton Fire Fighters, Lily’s staff, and Belton Animal Control were able to rescue all of the pets there. One elderly dog, however, succumbed to smoke inhalation and later died at a local emergency clinic. Our hearts are breaking for Gidget’s family for the loss of their beloved pet. The caring and compassionate staff at Lily’s loves each pet like their own and carries the weight of this loss heavily on their hearts.

The fire has left the Lily’s owners in a financial bind that they could never have imagined. This is affecting the livelihoods of many families and the ability to fund what promises to be a one of a kind Rehabilitation program for shelter pets. Between the financial worries and the loss of the dog in the fire they are devastated and overwhelmed. Amy and Justin and the staff at Lily’s give back and support the community in so many ways, it is our time to give back and to support them. If you are able to donate, or know others that can, it would be so very much appreciated. Please also spread the word, share with whoever you think would want to help and hold these compassionate and deserving folks up as they would hold you up! Thank You!!

Teresa Bradley Bays, DVM