Colorado Animal Rescue Mission & Philosophy
Colorado Animal Rescue, Inc. (CARE) was incorporated in 1992 by local veterinarians. For eight years the rescue and placement of abandoned, stray and surrendered animals was done out of the homes of dedicated CARE Board members. Our no-kill shelter facility opened its doors in 2000. In the five years since opening, CARE has taken in and placed (through adoptions) over 5,130 dogs and cats.
CARE’s mission statement outlines our goal, to provide safety and care for homeless animals and education for the pet owning public. The shelter’s mission incorporates the following components:
- Animal safety, in transport to the shelter, at the shelter, in the community
- Excellent animal care
- Successful adoption placements
- Public education and information through events, radio shows, newspaper articles, and advertisements
- Population control through spay/neuter assistance programs
- Feral cat trap/neuter/return (TNR) program – Street Cat Coalition
- Foster Care Program – to help socialize, train and care for our special needs animals
- Temperament testing and assessment of all shelter animals
- Behavioral and training counseling
These objectives constantly test the flexibility of shelter staff, as the shelter has been asked to respond to events such as fire emergencies, hoarding evacuations, and finding fosters for hundreds of kittens and puppies.
Community Involvement
CARE has recognized community needs and implemented programs in the last five years that have made the shelter a valuable resource in the Glenwood Springs/Garfield County area. Both the City of Glenwood Springs and Garfield County have entered into agreements with CARE to safely shelter and hold animals brought in by animal control officers. Public programs have become highly visible, particularly those offering spay/neuter assistance and coordinating information on lost and found animals (in cooperation with these local animal control organizations).
As a non-profit 501 (c)(3), fund raising to support our budget is a challenge every year, but one we undertake willingly to provide for the homeless animals in Garfield County. A small but growing cadre of contributors - called our "Annual Angels" - donates a minimum of $1,000 annually to support shelter operations. Our major fund raising event, called the "Putt’n on the Dog (& Kitty Cat) Ball," is held annually and involves scores of community volunteers. Animals are featured at adoptathons and fund-raising events throughout the year, culminating with our "Furry Friends Photo Shoot" during the holidays. The general public has been generous to the shelter during the year, with donations of money, food and litter when we find the pantry bare.
Colorado Animal Rescue has been a successful resource and a model animal shelter facility for five years, and continues to solidify its place in the local community.
