May Newsletter
- Reily Goyne
- May 23
- 3 min read
IMPORTANT: Respond To The Newest Proposed Draft Regulation Changes
The Kansas Department of Agriculture Animal Facilities Inspection program has released its newest proposed draft regulation changes and is inviting the public to comment until Friday, June 6. Click here for the proposed changes and public comment portal.
Linked to this newsletter are the comments Kansas Pet Advocates intends to submit in response to KDA’s request for feedback. These changes reflect input from shelters, rescues, veterinarians, and other animal welfare experts. They do not include every issue raised, only those that KPA has chosen to focus on at this time.
You may:
Sign on to KPA’s comments by emailing Reily Goyne with your name and/or organization name
Submit your own comments, or
Sign on and submit your own comments.
When commenting, focus on the five regulations and share information about how these changes will impact your organization’s operations, specifically the impact on costs and animal lives. Add any additional suggested changes you feel necessary in your own comments.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Kansas Pet Advocates Partner Profile

KPA Tours Helping Hands Humane Society
For 87 years, Helping Hands Humane Society (HHHS) in Topeka - a nonprofit built on the belief that every animal deserves kindness - has been advocating for pets in Kansas. On May 12, Kansas Pet Advocates (KPA) Executive Director, Terry Humphrey, and Humane World For Animals Kansas State Director Midge Grinstead toured HHHS in Topeka. Kathy Maxwell, the Executive Director for HHHS, gave the team a personal tour of the sanctuary for animals. HHHS programs provide:
Fostering the adoption of healthy animals into responsible homes
Reuniting lost animals with their owners
Reducing overpopulation by promoting the sterilization of animals
Providing an accessible facility with effective leadership and well-trained staff
Serving the community through education and addressing animal welfare issues
Maintaining a fiscally responsible organization by adhering to the highest standards of integrity
Helping Hands has more than 50 employees and hundreds of volunteers who work on-site seven days a week.
KPA speaks with the Kansas Animal Control Association Board
Kansas Pet Advocates Deputy Director Reily Goyne was invited to speak about the legislative session at the Kansas Animal Control Association's May 21st Board meeting. Reily shared KPA’s mission, advocating to improve the lives and laws for Kansas pets, and highlights from the 2025 legislative agenda.
During the session, KPA introduced a bill for a sales tax exemption for licensed nonprofit shelters and rescues, which did not pass. KPA also advocated for SB 130, which updates the Kansas Pet Animal Act (KPAA). While SB 130 did not advance, KPA requested and received an informational hearing in Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources on the Animal Facilities Inspection (AFI) program. Many of the committee members this year are new, so this was an excellent opportunity to educate them about pet animals in Kansas.
KPA recommends that shelters, rescues, and animal control officers use this summer to invite local and state policymakers to their facilities and events to build lasting, positive relationships.
Kansas Pet Advocates Community Outreach

Wichita Animal Services Advisory Board Presentation
Ellen Querner, Chair of the Wichita Animal Services Advisory Board (WASAB) and director of PALS Animal Rescue and Spay/Neuter Kansas, invited KPA to speak at WASAB’s meeting on Wednesday, May 21, about the recent draft of proposed regulation changes shared on May 2.
KPA Deputy Director Reily Goyne gave a short presentation about KPA’s mission and commitment to research and a data-driven approach to state-level policy development.
Reily emphasized the progress made by pet animal advocates, shelters, rescues, and others over the past year in response to multiple proposed draft regulations. The current proposal is an improvement over the draft released in August of 2024. The August draft regulations received more than 300 comments, and most opposed the draft regulations.
The new May 2 draft regulations have a public comment period open through June 6, and this is the best time to respond to influence any changes to be made to the regulations.
You can watch the full meeting here, or click here to see KPA’s presentation. Learn more about WASAB here.
KPA Meets with Founder of On A Mission
Kansas Pet Advocates Executive Director, Terry Humphrey, met with Scott Poore, Founder of On a Mission, on May 12 to learn about the organization. On A Mission shines light on rural animal shelters by promoting long-term shelter pets, providing critical support, and fostering sustainable community engagement, empowering rural shelters to enhance lives and strengthen communities. KPA is encouraged by the work that this organization is providing to improve the lives of pets in rural Kansas.
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