Record Number of Owner-Surrendered Dogs in Denver Animal Shelter

Posted on by Elizabeth Coalson
Denver Dog Owners Are Sending Their Pets to the Pound in Record Numbers In just the first 138 days of this year, 634 dogs were taken to Denver Animal Shelter by the very people they trusted most - their owners - and left behind. That’s a 237% increase compared to the same period in 2019 (pre-COVID). That’s nearly 5 dogs a day. The reasons are complex- ranging from housing instability and financial hardship to lifestyle changes and behavior issues in dogs that weren’t properly socialized during the pandemic. But the outcome is the same: dogs losing their homes. Dogs don’t...Read More

Are Strays Pseudo-Surrenders?

Posted on by Elizabeth Coalson
Nationally, only 20–30% of stray dogs entering shelters are ever reunited with their owners. In Colorado, that number has historically been higher than the national average, thanks to strong return-to-owner programs, community outreach, and access to free or low-cost microchipping. But even here, the trend is moving in the wrong direction. The return-to-owner rate is steadily declining, leading us to question why so many dogs go unclaimed - and whether they were ever truly “lost” in the first place. In 2019, 74% of stray dogs entering Colorado shelters were reclaimed by their owners. By 2024, that number dropped to less...Read More

Is “No-Kill” Ethical?

Posted on by Elizabeth Coalson
Is it ethical for any shelter to turn away animals in need? Some shelters do so daily, but they wear the "no-kill" halo nonetheless. These are also known as "limited-admission" shelters. Our thoughts on this apply to any shelter that turns away animals in need, regardless of the label.Main Issues with "No-Kill"1. It's Misleading: "No-kill" shelters can still euthanize up to 10% of animals and keep the label, which might surprise people. The 90% save rate isn’t based on science - it’s just a number that caught on over time.2. Selective Intake: "No-kill" shelters can (and often do) turn animals...Read More

Advocacy in Action

Posted on by Elizabeth Coalson
We stand for a world where every dog has a good life, and dogs that are warehoused do not have a good life. “Warehousing” refers to the practice of rescues using boarding facilities to house dogs that may be harder to adopt. These rescues typically import thousands of dogs and puppies every year from outside Colorado and do not have enough foster homes for all of them. They then select the dogs deemed least adoptable and place them in boarding for an indefinite period. These dogs can spend months or even years in these boarding facilities where they receive little...Read More

The State of Canine Welfare

Posted on by Elizabeth Coalson
THE ASKInform, educate, generate creative solutions, and share your knowledge. Knowledge is power and you are powerful!2023 was not a good year for dogs in Colorado or nationally. Shelter intake is up, adoptions are down, and euthanasia is on the rise. We cannot change the past that got us to this desperate point, but we can change the future! 70% of dogs entering shelters nationwide are either STRAYS or OWNER RELINQUISHMENTS. By reducing this number, we can significantly reduce the rate of euthanasia in our shelters. Here’s what you need to know. STRAYS: Dogs can roam far from home and,...Read More

There’s No Such Thing as an “Oopsy Litter”

Posted on by Elizabeth Coalson
THE ASK Spay/neuter your dogs...always! Talk about the impact unwanted litters have on canine welfare broadly. Inform, educate, generate creative solutions, and share your knowledge. Knowledge is power and you are powerful!It’s really simple…if a female dog cannot have pups, she won’t. Spaying is the only surefire way to prevent unwanted litters. Neutering male dogs is important for behavioral and health reasons, so all should be neutered. However, if a female dog cannot become pregnant, the potency of a male dog is irrelevant (sorry, guys). Let’s be clear, we’re talking about female companion dogs, not female breeding dogs or female...Read More

We’re Failing Our Best Friends

Posted on by Elizabeth Coalson
We're Failing Our Best Friends There is no canine welfare crisis that is not the fault of human beings. Period.Overcrowded shelters are having to euthanize millions of dogs every year not because they want to, they have to. Dogs are being over-bred creating a whole host of congenital health problems and leading to unimaginable suffering for hundreds of thousands of dogs. All around us, dogs are severely neglected and abused, whether we see it or not. That's just the tip of the iceberg...all human-made problems, all on each and every one of us. "WHAT??", you say! "But I volunteer, and...Read More

Breed-Specific Bans – Your Dog Could be Next

Posted on by Elizabeth Coalson
Breed-specific legislation (BSL) targets dog breeds believed to be dangerous to humans and other animals, which is based on flawed information, public fear, and governments’ desire to appease those fears. A short history lesson…in the 1980s, BSL began to gain popularity because of media attention on “pit bull” attacks, spurring governments into action to quell public fears. Research into dog breeds and aggression was conducted based entirely on PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS and, viola, the “breed list” was born identifying dog breeds thought to be inherently aggressive or more prone to biting (e.g., pit bull mixes, Rottweilers, Dobermans and Boxers). It should...Read More