More Than 60 Dogs Removed from Home in Larimer County

When a local informal breeder found themselves in over their head
Larimer Humane Society was there to help

What started out as a few Chihuahuas being cared for quickly turned into a situation a local informal breeder was no longer able to handle. When they had nowhere else to turn, Larimer Humane Society was there to help. The rescue of 63 Chihuahuas from a home in southern Larimer County began when the Larimer County Sherriff’s Office received a call from concerned neighbors for excessive barking. When they arrived, they discovered more than 60 dogs were residing in the home - that’s when our Animal Protection and Control team received the call for assistance.

"The owner didn't know where to turn for help," said Bill Porter, Captain, Animal Protection and Control. "The owner didn't intend to be a formal breeder and just didn't know what to do with the dogs that were continuing to multiply.” Sergeant Quinn from the Animal Protection and Control team and a representative from the Pet Animal Care Facilities Act reached out and began to work collaboratively with the owner to evaluate the situation and assist in providing a solution to the overwhelming circumstances they had found themselves in. What makes this case special is that the owner truly wanted what was best for the dogs and understood they had found themselves in a situation where they could not properly care for the dogs and voluntarily surrendered the dogs to Larimer Humane Society.

“If you have multiple pets and do not spay and neuter and are not prepared for responsible breeding, it’s easy to get in over your head,” said Judy Calhoun, Executive Director. “In this particular case, we believe the breeding escalated quickly because the males and females were not separated to regulate breeding rates, which is typically done in licensed facilities.”

Despite the overwhelming number of dogs in the home, all of the dogs were safe and in relatively healthy condition. Because of the dogs’ health status and the owner’s willingness to work with our Animal Protection and Control team, they will not face any charges. The owner even plans to keep up to four of the dogs and work with Larimer Humane Society to ensure that they are properly spayed and neutered.

Some of the 63 Chihuahuas will remain in Larimer Humane Society’s care until they are ready for adoption while others have been sent throughout the Front Range to partner agencies to find their new forever homes. Partner agencies include Longmont Humane Society, Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Dumb Friends League, Denver Animal Shelter and Humane Society of the Pikes Peaks Region.

“This collaborative rescue really was a win all around,” said Sergeant Quinn. “Not only did we help a community member in need, but these 63 dogs are getting a new leash on life thanks to our partner agencies and the entire team here at Larimer Humane Society.”

New Shelter Update

Building A Better World For Pets

Our dream of building a better world for pets through a new shelter has been 10 years in the making. While we still have a long way to go in fulfilling this dream, we can’t help but beam with excitement as we see our dream begin to take form right before our eyes. Since breaking ground on May 4, 2016 our construction partner, Mortenson, has been hard at work turning our dream into reality. Over the past few months lots of dirt has been moved,
underground work has been completed, concrete for the foundation has been placed and the walls are starting to go up!

To learn more about our Building a Better World for Pets campaign and to get updates on the construction progress of our new shelter visit us at www.larimerhumane.org/building-a-better-world-for-pets

Our New Shelter Signals a New Era for Larimer Humane Society

New Mission, Vision, Values And Strategic Framework

Our new facility will be a welcoming place for pets and people to find love. Planning for this state-of-the-art shelter has afforded us an opportunity to look ahead to the challenges of the future and broaden our scope in the community. In the next five years, we are determined to increase our organizational capacity and to enhance our programs and services. Read more about our plans for the future online at www.larimerhumane.org.
We are excited to share the details of our new strategic framework with you:

Mission Statement:
To further the compassionate, safe, and responsible relationship between animals and people.

Vision Statement:
Larimer Humane Society is valued as an essential component to the high quality of life for animals and people in Northern Colorado.

Values

Open Admission - As an open door shelter, we believe all animals deserve a safe haven and to have their care and treatment guided by the Five Freedoms.

Community - We believe that by harnessing the power and collaboration of the community, guided by our knowledge and leadership in animal welfare, we can better support animals together.

Service - We believe that our role is to serve our community, both animals and people, with respect, dignity and compassion.

Trust - We believe that by building a foundation of trust in the communities we serve, our organization can thrive and we will be well positioned to fulfill our mission.

People - We value the time, thoughts and talents of the staff and people in our community, including volunteers, supporters and our partners.

Responsibility - We have a responsibility to think progressively, accept responsibility for our actions, ensure existing laws are enforced, and to be good stewards of the resources we have, all to improve the lives of the animals and communities we serve.

Strategic Goals

Here is a brief overview of our new strategic goals. You can read them in full online at www.larimerhumane.org.

Outreach and Influence
Be an essential community resource and leader in animal welfare.

Programs and Services
Expand our service offerings to strengthen the safety net for quality animal care in the communities we serve—while also providing excellent sheltering and animal protection services.

Organizational Capacity
Enhance staff, volunteer, board and financial resources as needed to achieve our goals and to support the growth of the organization.

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