n most shelters, time is the enemy. Each year in the United States, after a pre-determined time, hundreds of thousands of animals are euthanized for overstaying their welcome. At Colorado Humane, time is the animal's greatest asset. We provide shelter, food and medical treatment as long as an animal's health and heart are willing! This can be a day, a week or even months, if necessary. In only the most extreme situations is an animal put to sleep. Grave illness or injury, advanced age with infirmity or aggression are the only criteria considered for euthanasia. Walk through the shelter and look into the eyes of a dog that has been here for months. The eyes twinkle and the tail wags. If he has not given up, how can we?
Colorado Humane is the state's only open admission shelter where no clock is ticking. As an open-door shelter, no animal is turned away. With no clock ticking, CHS does not euthanize for money or space considerations. It is relatively easy to accomplish one of these goals, but to stand firm for both is a Herculean task. This is what sets us apart from every other organization in Colorado.
The Society is also what is called a "welfarest" organization. Basically, we are in the business of saving animals, one at a time. We do not become involved in protests or "activist" issues. Our educational programs are proactive and use positive messages to teach humane and responsible behavior. We actively support the control pet populations through spay or neuter of every animal we save. We also offer non-qualifying spays and neuters to the general public.