The Animal Protective Association (APA) of Missouri is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Louis, Missouri, dedicated to bringing people and pets together through progressive adoption, wellness, and educational programming. Founded in 1922 by Mrs. Ella Megginson after she witnessed an act of animal cruelty, the organization has spent over a century expanding its footprint from a grassroots rescue into a major community resource. Operating a modern physical adoption center on South Hanley Road, the APA provides a vital safety net for thousands of companion animals each year, managing a robust shelter network, a dedicated pet transfer initiative from overcrowded rural facilities, and achieving an exceptional 98% adoption rate.

Guided by the "PACT" model, the APA balances its commitment to animal welfare with active community stabilization, focusing heavily on initiatives that preserve the human-animal bond and prevent owner surrender. Their expansive programming features a unique Domestic Violence Pet Assistance Program—providing safe, confidential temporary fostering for the pets of individuals escaping abusive homes—as well as crisis housing support for families facing eviction or sudden displacement. Additionally, the APA serves as a proactive healthcare provider by running an on-site, affordable veterinary clinic, delivering free spay/neuter and wellness services to under-resourced neighborhoods, and leading community-wide Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return (TNVR) programs for street cats. Backed by public donations, volunteers, and tactical partnerships like the Best Friends Animal Society network, the APA works tirelessly to build a compassionate region where both pets and people can thrive.

Animals over profits: Unlike typical corporate chains, we are completely against selling animals — always, now, and forever.

You choose where 25% of the earnings goes: We believe in full transparency — we calculate this 25% before paying for any executive salaries or business overhead. By skipping the fancy corporate costs, we ensure the money actually lands where it belongs: with the animals.