Wayside Waifs, Kansas City

Every year more than 6,500 animals enter Wayside Waifs, incapable of surviving on their own. They're injured or sick, mothers with babies, or orphans too young to feed themselves. But the shelter takes them all in. It even outsources—entrusting the youngest and most vulnerable to foster families who care for them and dote on them until they're old enough and socially ready to seek adoption.

At that point, the animals move back to the shelter. There they enjoy all the privileges of an adopted pet: dogs go on lengthy walks around a 50-acre campus, hear soothing spa music indoors, and play in a 5,000-square-foot fenced-in agility park; while cats lounge on towers in the sun room, sleep on plush beds in cage-free kennels, and play iPad games with a volunteer. As a result of this loving treatment, the animals are happy and healthy once it's time to move in with new families.