Talkin' Shop

What is something you are proud of as an organization?
In 2021, the Dumb Friends League partnered with the Animal Welfare Association of Colorado and the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association to successfully champion House Bill 21-1160, which requires medical and behavioral care for cats and dogs in shelters and rescues across the state. Together, these requirements represent one of the nine tenets of Socially Conscious Sheltering, a compassionate and thoughtful model outlining how shelters can best support vulnerable animals in their care and community.

The nine tenets of Socially Conscious Sheltering are to:

1. Ensure every unwanted or homeless pet has a safe place to go for shelter and care
2. Place (at least) every healthy and safe animal in loving homes
3. Assess the medical and behavioral needs of homeless animals, and ensure these needs are thoughtfully addressed
4. Alleviate suffering and make appropriate euthanasia decisions
5. Align policy with the needs of the community
6. Enhance the human-animal bond through thoughtful placements and post-adoption support
7. Consider the health and wellness of each animal and community when transferring animals between communities
8. Implement inclusive policies and practices
9. Foster a culture of transparency, ethical decision-making, mutual respect, continual learning, and collaboration

The League is proud to have played a part in the passage of this legislation and to be a member of a growing community of shelters, rescues, veterinary practices, and policymakers across the country committed to embracing these tenets and advancing the field of animal welfare. For more information on Socially Conscious Sheltering, please visit scsheltering.org.

What is something that makes your organization unique?
In addition to ensuring that each animal in our shelters receives medical attention and treatment, the Dumb Friends League also provides donor-subsidized veterinary services for more than 19,000 owned pets and asocial cats each year through our Community Veterinary Services (CVS) program. In fact, the Dumb Friends League Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur is one of the only clinics in the country committed to reducing barriers to accessing both preventive and urgent care for people and pets from under-served communities. Likewise, our CVS program brings essential veterinary care to eight priority neighborhoods across the Denver Metro Area through mobile vaccine clinics, serving more than 3,500 pets per year.

Through equal access to care, CVS strives to understand our community’s needs and offer supportive solutions that will keep companion animals healthy and by their families’ sides for many years to come, but our innovative work doesn’t stop there! At our CSU Spur teaching hospital, we offer a one-of-kind education center for the Colorado community where veterinary students, new graduates, and members of the public can learn and be inspired. Specifically, we aim to engage diverse populations in the essential work of veterinarians and expose young people to STEM-related careers so they can begin to see themselves in these roles. League veterinarians perform “on-view” surgeries, meaning the public can view live procedures through glass while docents from Colorado State University (CSU) field questions for our veterinary team. Additionally, children and adults can participate in humane education activities, explore mock exam rooms, and enter the fascinating world of veterinary practice through virtual reality simulators for a truly unique learning experience!

What is a program you run that is important for people to know about? The Dumb Friends League knows that the bonds we share with our pets are essential, and we are dedicated to doing everything we can to help families stay together. In 2016, we created the Pet Assist program to provide free, short-term foster care for animals whose owners are facing crisis, including temporary homelessness, domestic violence, and unexpected or prolonged illness.

For many, it is nearly impossible to choose between seeking help for themselves and caring for their pets. A recently evicted or unhoused individual may fear losing their beloved companion animal due to a lack of pet-inclusive housing or shelter. This growing scarcity in housing resources also impacts those experiencing family violence, with many choosing to stay in abusive situations rather than leave and risk the loss or harm of their pet.

Thanks to this vital community program, people can seek housing, refuge, or treatment with the comfort of knowing that their pet, who may represent their most important relationship, is safe. “Knowing that my pets were well-cared for—but that I would get them back—gave me great peace of mind during a difficult time,” shared one recently surveyed Pet Assist patron.

Designed primarily for cats and dogs, Pet Assist offers shelter, foster, and veterinary care for an initial three-week period, with the potential for an extended stay based on the owner’s circumstances and the League’s available resources. From 2020 to 2021, demand for the program doubled, indicating a growing need for these services in our community. As such, the League is working hard to procure designated resources to ensure continued access to this essential program.

What is the biggest obstacle(s) your organization faces while caring for animals?
As a nonprofit organization that is entirely community-supported, the Dumb Friends League works tirelessly to raise adequate funding so that we can continue to provide the animals in our shelters with the highest standard of care. With adoption fees well below the average cost of care for companion animals at our facilities (a number exceeding $550 in our last fiscal year), we rely on the compassion and generosity of a community of individual, foundation, and corporate donors to ensure this work continues.

Can you share a story of a specific pet you helped recently? What was the case and what was the result?
Scout found himself a victim of circumstance when a move sadly forced his original owner to relinquish him to the Dumb Friends League. The 1-year-old Catahoula mix first came to our San Luis Valley Animal Center in Alamosa, CO in the hopes of finding a new loving home to call his own.

With his familiar people and surroundings suddenly gone, Scout quickly became distressed. He was fearful of strangers and constantly looking for an escape. Our San Luis Valley team opened their arms and hearts to him, and, over the coming days, he gradually came to trust his new caretakers. Soon enough, Scout’s anxiety faded into excitement and playfulness, and he welcomed the attention. Still, he couldn’t seem to find the right fit for the next chapter in his life—that is, until he was transferred to another Dumb Friends League shelter—the Buddy Center in Castle Rock, CO.

When Dalton and his girlfriend saw Scout at the Buddy Center, they were smitten by his gentle and friendly demeanor. “Almost immediately, we knew that Scout needed us, and we needed him,” they recalled. With the help of League staff across the state, Scout was able to gain vital trust in our care, thereby allowing him to bond with, and accept love from, the right family. “We couldn’t have asked for a better dog,” said Dalton.