A new animal shelter is entering the Wichita market

There’s been an overcrowding situation at animal shelters in and around Wichita for some time, but a new nonprofit is entering the market with another shelter that may help alleviate some of that.

Always and Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary, which started in 2017 in Spring Hill, south of Kansas City, is opening a shelter at 4090 N. Hoover Ct. either late this summer or in early fall.

“Our original . . . inspiration for starting was we were a sanctuary for senior dogs,” said Gretta Lajza, the Wichita coordinator and feline medical coordinator.

“Since then, we’ve really evolved.”

Now, Always and Furever’s shelters take dogs regardless of their ages.

One specialty of the shelters is to treat serious medical cases.

Kelly Frey, intake coordinator, said founder Jen Dulski had the idea for the shelters.

“Her dream was to make a difference, so that’s kind of how it all began,” Frey said.

At the beginning, she said there was a handful of volunteers, and “her goal was to save senior dogs and give them a chance just to live out their lives just in peace and love.”

As Always and Furever started posting on Facebook, that sparked the interest of more people.

In addition to the main shelter in Spring Hill, there’s one in Osawatomie near there. And in addition to the one coming to Wichita, one will follow in Kansas City, Mo., as well.

Always and Furever places dogs and cats with foster parents.

“We have even rescued a few goats, a few horses,” Frey said. “We’ve helped a couple guinea pigs in our time.”

Cats generally are not placed in a shelter setting. They go to fosters or PetSmart stores.

Along with taking owner-surrendered animals, Frey said, “We are going to do what we can to help the old and the sick strays, definitely.”

The Wichita site will be a shelter.

“Our goal is to never have them stay there very long,” Frey said.

Carl Hebert of InSite Real Estate Group and Ben Gartner and Lyndsey Gould of J.P. Weigand & Sons handled the deal for the shelter.

Some of the organization’s foster providers are already in Wichita and the surrounding area.

“We have a huge following already,” Frey said. “It’s pretty amazing.”