What do Central City, Fairplay and Kiowa all have in common? There are more cats living at the Denver Dumb Friends League animal shelter than people living in these three towns. This sad statistic recently came to light at the Denver Dumb Friends League (DDFL). The number of cats at the shelter outnumbers the citizens of some towns in the state of Colorado. That number: 760. That's how many cats are in the DDFL's care at this time. According to shelter statistics, that's more cats than people in over 100 incorporated municipalities in Colorado. To help that many cats, the DDFL is waiving adoption fees through September 30 for all cats one year and older.
Bob Rohde, President and CEO of the DDFL says, "Since March, we have seen more than 6,000 cats and kittens come through our doors at both of our shelters. We are here to serve animals in need and be a voice for them, but now more than ever, we need our pet-loving community to help homeless cats find permanent homes."
The waived-fee adoptions are offered at both shelters, Quebec Street in Denver and the Buddy Center in Castle Rock and the satellite adoption center in Northfield Stapleton. Adoptions include spay/neuter surgery, initial vaccinations, microchip and a free office visit with a participating veterinarian. The League estimates they spend about $300 on each homeless pet in their care, including shelter, foster and medical care and adoption services.
"We want to see cats in loving homes, not in a shelter," says Theresa Geary, Vice President of Operations. "That is why we're waiving adoption fees for adult cats all month long."
For those unable to provide a forever home to a cat, there are many ways to help the cats and dogs in the League's care. One way is to provide temporary foster care. Foster volunteers provide room in their homes until an animal is ready for adoption or until space is available in the shelter. The League provides foster families with food and supplies along with veterinary care when needed. To learn more about fostering an animal, visit the DDFL's Fostering Pets webpage.
"We need everyone's help to prevent more unwanted pets from coming through our doors," says Geary. "It's essential people with unaltered pets have them spayed or neutered."
According to CityTownInfo.com, there are 515 residents of Central City, 610 residents in Fairplay and 581 in Kiowa.
For over 100 years, the Denver Dumb Friends League has been "speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves." They are the largest animal shelter in the Rocky Mountain region helping more than tens of thousands of animals each year. Operating as a private non-profit organization, they are an open-admission animal shelter, meaning no animal is turned away from their doors.
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