Denver Dumb Friends League

Companion animal shelter servicesthe League provides compassionate care through comprehensive, direct services for pets and horses in Colorado that are vulnerable to homelessness, suffering, and abuse.see schedule o.the League is a socially conscious shelter. Socially conscious sheltering is a compassionate, transparent, and thoughtful model of how shelters can best support vulnerable animals by providing respectful treatment and placement of every healthy and safe animal. As a socially conscious shelter, the League works with its community, city, and state policymakers and other shelters to create the best outcomes for animals while nurturing the human-animal bond and ensuring that no animal is turned away because they are too old, sick, or broken. As a socially conscious shelter, the League assesses the behavior and medical needs of each animal; treats these needs, when possible; alleviates suffering; makes appropriate euthanasia decisions; and places all healthy and safe animals.during fiscal year 2023, the League's incredible impact included the following: - welcoming 21,098 pets at our three open-admission shelters: the leslie a. malone center in Denver, Colorado; the buddy center in castle rock, Colorado; and the san luis valley animal center in alamosa, Colorado - making 18,154 placements through adoption, reuniting pets with their owners, or transfers to partners - increasing the confidence of 5,161 pets through our in-shelter behavior program - enabling 3,461 pets to receive foster care in the homes of 521 foster home volunteers - reuniting 2,633 lost pets with their owners - accepting and finding homes for 1,434 pets from other Colorado shelters - placing 447 unsocialized cats through our working cat program - providing 296 free behavior helpline consultations to the public - providing over 100 different brochures and online resources to pet owners and shelters throughout the country - supporting the community with over 89,000 calls answered through the kathi brock communications centerthe League's advocacy team works with policymakers, animal welfare agencies, law enforcement, and the community to support policies that make Colorado a leader in promoting animal welfare. In fiscal year 2023, our work helped to protect greyhounds worldwide by banning betting on greyhound racing simulcasts in Colorado, eased the financial burden on renters with pets by capping pet rent and pet deposits, and stiffened penalties for those who harm service dogs, k9 officers, and police horses. We continue to fight for increased access to veterinary care for every animal in Colorado and support other policies for the care and respect of animals in the community. Equine sheltering servicesthe Dumb Friends League harmony equine center (harmony) is a rehabilitation and adoption facility for abused and neglected horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules that have been removed from their owners by law enforcement authorities. As capacity allows, harmony accepts owned Colorado horses in need of rehoming from people who can no longer care for them. Since harmony opened in 2012, more than 2,100 horses have been helped.when formerly abused and neglected horses and other equines arrive at harmony, they are given immediate medical care to make them comfortable. Once they have been permanently surrendered to harmony, they are evaluated, rehabilitated, trained, and adopted, as appropriate.during fiscal year 2023, harmony: - received 293 equines, which includes impound through law enforcement, transfers from partners, and owner surrenders - found homes for 93 equines - transferred out 36 equines to placement partners -successfully placed or comfortably housed all healthy and safe equines

Shelter veterinary servicesthe League provides all needed medical care to the animals in our shelters. Before being ready for adoption, our skilled team examines, evaluates, vaccinates, spays/neuters unaltered cats and dogs, implants microchips, and performs many other life saving surgeries. Also, the League offers free treatment to animals for up to two weeks post adoption and partners with veterinarians in the Denver area through a connect for care program, which sets pets up to receive the vital ongoing veterinary care they need to be happy and healthy.see schedule o.during fiscal year 2023, the Dumb Friends League shelter veterinary team: - performed 11,971 surgeries for shelter animals, including 9,923 spay/neuter surgeries; 1,202 dental surgeries; and 846 orthopedic, soft tissue, and wound-repair surgeries - provided treatment for a wide variety of medical conditions, such as upper respiratory infections, heartworm disease, and parvovirus - gave a total of 168,173 medications to animals in the shelter, an average of 461 per day - employed 50 veterinary staff members to provide this care to our shelter animals - employed 48 veterinary staff to provide this care to our shelter animals.

Community veterinary servicesin january 2022, the League opened the Dumb Friends League veterinary hospital at csu spur. This veterinary hospital provides urgent care services for ill or injured pets belonging to families who otherwise would not have access to veterinary care because of income, language, and other barriers. The hospital's fees are highly subsidized by donor support. If a family can otherwise afford to provide care for their pet, they are directed to obtain that care from one of the excellent veterinarians in our community.see schedule o.during fiscal year 2023, the Dumb Friends League veterinary hospital: - performed 1,294 surgeries, including 134 orthopedic procedures - served 6,674 sick or injured pets - employed 40 veterinary staff members to provide this careas part of our ongoing efforts to reduce the number of cats on our streets and homeless pets in shelters, the Dumb Friends League spay/neuter clinic offers subsidized spay/neuter surgeries and core vaccinations for Colorado cats, including owned cats, feral cats, and community cats.during fiscal year 2023, the Dumb Friends League spay/neuter clinic performed 11,668 surgeries with vaccinations, including 11,155 cats and 513 dogs.the League continued its outreach services by hosting community vaccination clinics for pets in priority neighborhoods in Denver. In fiscal year 2023, 55 community vaccine clinics were held, providing vaccinations for 5,191 owned cats and dogs.in july 2022, the League took over the Denver metro cat program, which connects residents in the community with vital services for owned and feral cats, including spay and neuter. During fiscal year 2023, this program aided 2,119 cats in our priority neighborhoods.

Animal protectionthe Colorado humane society, a program of the League, prevents and investigates animal neglect and mistreatment and promotes animal welfare statewide, assists law enforcement, and educates owners to help them bring the care of their animals into compliance with the law.during fiscal year 2023, the Colorado humane society: - provided services in 42 counties with our state-commissioned bureau of animal protection agents - responded to 1,130 cases of neglect and mistreatment involving 2,300 animalscommunity and educational serviceshumane education and community engagement play an essential role in ending pet homelessness and animal suffering. Events and programs are offered at our shelters and throughout Denver metropolitan communities on various animal welfare topics, and volunteer opportunities are available within all of our shelters and clinics.during fiscal year 2023, the League: - offered educational programs both at shelters and through online formats on various animal welfare topics. The League shared knowledge with 15,249 children and adults through 762 programs - benefited from an average of 1,442 volunteers for the year who donated 209,205 hours of service, equivalent to 101 employees