Give Thanks, Give Back and Give a Senior Pet a Home: WAAL's Holiday Season

The holiday season is about gratitude, generosity and home. For the animals in Wichita Animal Action League's care, home is the greatest gift of all. This November and December, there are three simple ways to help: adopt, give and spread the word.

November is National Senior Pet Month

Senior pets are some of the most overlooked animals in rescue. Puppies and kittens get the attention, while older dogs and cats wait longer for a family. Yet senior pets have so much to offer. They're often already house-trained, calmer and content with a quiet evening on the couch. Their personalities are fully formed, so you know exactly who you're bringing home.

WAAL also helps seniors stay in the homes they already have. Its Senior Dog Care Assistance program, funded by a Grey Muzzle Organization grant, helps Sedgwick County households earning under $60,000 a year care for dogs 7 and older who are at risk of being surrendered. It can cover vet and dental care, grooming, food, rental pet deposits and temporary boarding.

How adoption works at WAAL

Adopting from WAAL starts with an application at waalrescue.org/adopt. The team helps match you with the right animal and schedules a time to meet. WAAL's adoptions team is all volunteers, so applications take three to five days to process. WAAL places pets in indoor-only homes, and adoption fees vary by animal.

A note on pets as holiday gifts

A new pet is a commitment that lasts many years. If you're thinking about surprising someone with a pet for the holidays, talk with them first and make the decision together. A gift certificate toward an adoption fee, paired with a leash or a toy, lets your loved one choose the perfect companion in their own time.

Giving Tuesday is December 1

Giving Tuesday follows Thanksgiving weekend and has become one of the most important days of the year for nonprofits. For WAAL, every gift goes to rescuing animals in crisis: veterinary care, food, shelter and support for foster families. WAAL took in more than 1,200 animals in 2025.

Wichita's need is real. In March, the Wichita Animal Shelter reached its limit for adult dogs, and local shelters were at capacity again in June, a reminder of how many animals in our community need help. Rescues like WAAL step in to give those animals a second chance.

You can give online by card, PayPal or Venmo, set up a monthly gift or mail a check to WAAL, PO Box 21401, Wichita, KS 67208.

Prevention is part of the mission

Through Spay It Forward, WAAL makes spay and neuter surgery accessible for low-income families in Sedgwick County. The program covers the surgery, rabies and distemper vaccines, a registered microchip and a nail trim. Fewer unplanned litters means fewer animals entering shelters, and that's one of the most powerful ways to reduce overcrowding over the long term.

Other ways to help this season

• Foster. WAAL doesn't have a shelter building, so it can only save as many animals as it has foster homes. WAAL supplies food, litter, kennels, vet care and 24/7 support. Learn about fostering.
• Shop with purpose. Pick something from WAAL's Amazon wish list or Chewy wish list. Gift cards are always welcome, and Dillons shoppers can enroll in Community Rewards with WAAL's ID, DD013.
• Share. Post WAAL's adoptable animals and Giving Tuesday campaign on social media. A single share can reach the right family.

Thank you, Wichita

WAAL is a state-licensed nonprofit rescue, and everything it does is powered by the community. Visit waalrescue.org or call (316) 895-9225 to adopt, foster or give this holiday season.