Meet the 18-Year-Old Rescuing Excelsior Springs’ Animals

Excelsior Springs, Mo. (Jan. 26, 2026) — At only 18 years old, Aniston Kennedy, a local resident and Excelsior Springs High School graduate, spreads compassion by rescuing animals, coordinating spay and neuter appointments, bottle-feeding kittens, wrangling roosters, and engaging with the community to help four-legged friends who can’t always help themselves.

“I’ve always been interested in rescuing animals,” Aniston said. “All of the animals have been rescues. We even have a chinchilla that was rehomed to my family. We knew nothing about her, but we were like, sure, we’ll take her.”

Her instinct to say yes has helped Aniston grow into a local animal advocate. She said her home has become a revolving door for various species, and that she has helped more than just cats and dogs. Some of her rescues have included bunnies, bearded dragons, and even a baby squirrel she transported to Lakeside Nature Center after it was abandoned by its mother.

Beginning in 2023, she recalled her first rescue started casually, taking in a bunny when a friend was simply “getting rid of him.” But soon, the calls began, and she quickly realized there was a need in the community for animals to find homes, be reunited with their owners, or simply get the care they needed.

She described situations like a bearded dragon left behind by tenants, puppies from Ray County Animal Shelter needing a safe place to land, a sickly kitten needing veterinary help, and even a rooster no one else would catch. “I found him a home,” she said with enthusiasm.

As time passed, her focus shifted toward cats, especially with the need for many of them to be spayed and neutered. Aniston said she started trap-neuter-return, also known as TNR, in the Excelsior Springs area.

TNR, according to Alleycat.org, is a humane method for stabilizing and controlling outdoor cat populations by catching or trapping cats, spaying or neutering and vaccinating them, then returning them to their original outdoor homes. The method is known to reduce future populations, minimize diseases such as rabies, and reduce nuisance behaviors within communities.

As her efforts grew, Aniston said others in the community began stepping in to help. On one such occasion, she recalled more than 36 cats in need of spaying or neutering, along with vaccinations. She said it became a community effort and credited Tammy Murphy, Excelsior Springs Farmers Market director, who “fostered 16 of the 36 kittens,” Aniston said.

She added that Raven Nicole, with Kitty Cat Connection, helped her find homes for a litter of kittens discovered under a boat. “She took them. And then I think two passed away, but the rest of them got adopted and found homes through Kitty Cat Connection,” she recalled.

Aniston also thanked Kelly Anderson, with the Eden Village Project, for calling when she notices an animal in need. She said she has also gained a network of friends and family members who offer support, supplies, and encouragement.

Sometimes, the help comes from strangers. “I had someone, I think she was a veterinarian in the area, she donated $500 when I was rescuing animals, a colony of 36 cats,” Aniston recalled. “So I went out and bought food for the caretakers of the animals. I’ve also provided food for people with animals in Mosby and then spayed and neutered all of them, along with vetting them.”

To keep rescuing, Aniston said resources have been essential. “I go to Pet Resource Center in Kansas City,” she said. “They have a feral package. It’s $35 per cat if you take three or more. And I was bringing carloads of cats at that point in time.”

Aniston began her rescue journey two years ago, and as of October 2025, she said she has received more than $1,000 in donations, spayed or neutered over 44 animals, adopted out 35, and found 10 dogs, reuniting seven of them with their owners. She also said she has rehomed three.

Through her efforts, Aniston said she’s quick to learn and prefers a hands-on approach. “I just have love for the animals, and I just research in my free time,” she said.

Currently, she works as an assistant groomer at Long Veterinary Clinic in Kearney, Missouri, which allows her to stay hands-on with animals both at work and at home. Looking ahead, she said, “I thought about vet tech, but grooming gets paid better, and I don’t have to go to school for it. At some point, I would like to become a nonprofit, and if not, I’ll just rescue the animals I can on the side. But I would like it to become a business.”

Aniston also urged pet owners to microchip their animals and make sure the chip is registered with updated contact information. “A lot of people have chipped dogs, but they don’t end up being registered and/or have updated information,” she said. She added that the goal is simple: if she finds a missing pet, she wants to get it back home quickly.

In a small community like Excelsior Springs, Aniston is proof that one person, no matter how young, can make a difference with persistence and a network of support.

For Aniston, her reason is simple: “I just like spending time with the animals. It makes me feel really good, just knowing that I have made a difference in their lives.”

For those who want to reach out to Aniston or make a donation to support her efforts in Excelsior Springs, visit her Facebook page.