“In the metro Denver area, we receive a lot of small breeds, such as Chihuahuas,” says Judi Heady, director of the Dumb Friends League Quebec Street Shelter. “Because we have so many, they often wait longer than large breeds for new homes.”
The opposite is true in places like Grand Junction, Rifle and Mesa County that are filled with large dogs in need of homes, but an adopter base looking for smaller companions.
Since July, the Dumb Friends League has been working with animal shelters along the Western Slope—transferring small dogs out in exchange for large-breed dogs, which are vastly popular in the Denver area and easily adopted within a few days. “We have the adoption resources and the community support to get larger dogs into loving homes very quickly,” says Heady.
At least once a month, staff from the Dumb Friends League embark on a two-day trip across the state to shelters including the Rifle Animal Shelter, Roice Hurst Humane Society and Mesa County Animal Shelter—both in Mesa County—and Colorado Animal Rescue in Glenwood Springs, delivering adoptable small-breed dogs and picking up approximately 20 to 25 large dogs in need of homes. Once the dogs arrive back at the Dumb Friends League, they are given a day to relax and acclimate; they are also evaluated for health and behavior, and are spayed or neutered, if necessary, before being placed up for adoption.
“This transfer program is a great example of Colorado shelters working together to care for the homeless animals in our state and get them into loving homes,” says Heady. In fact, Colorado is a model state for saving homeless pets’ lives, with more than 90 percent of all pets entering Colorado shelters adopted, transferred to rescues or reunited with owners.
On Tuesday, the Dumb Friends League welcomed 19 lucky dogs—ranging from huskies to cattle dogs, beagles and shepherd mixes—from the Western Slope, who will soon be walking alongside their new Front Range families. Across the state, patrons of Western Slope shelters will be settling in with their new lap dogs. It’s a win-win, both for Colorado citizens and Colorado canines.
