Located on Jason Street, the Denver Animal Shelter has the capacity to deal with the hundreds of animals that need care each week including domestic pets like cats and dogs to small wildlife animals. Donations are welcome and are tax deductible. This Denver animal shelter is a part of the Division of Animal Control and operates an adopt a pet scheme for a small fee. Senior citizens are given a discount. Fish, rabbits, birds, snakes and iguanas can be found there from time to time as well as dogs and cats.
When a dog or cat is adopted, they must be spayed or neutered before the new owner is allowed to take him or her home. The shelter gives dogs the distemper and parvo vaccinatation but the person adopting must organise a rabies vaccination. Cats are given the feline distemper and upper respiratory virus vaccination. In Denver, all cats and dogs aged over 6 months are required by law to be licensed. Getting a license is easy. The shelter has online facility to make the process simple.
Care for injured and sick animals has been provided by Dumb Friends League since 1910. They also run an adoption scheme for the animals they rescue. Part of their work at this animal shelter in Denver is to educate the public on how to take care of pets. It is the largest organization of its kind in the Rocky Mountains area. The main shelter is on Quebec Street and there is another one at the Buddy Center in Castle Rock. The shelter also reunites lost pets with their owners as well as coordinate the placement of dogs, cats, and rabbits with new owners. Housing over 25,000 homeless animals is expensive every year, so the shelter accepts donations to help with the cost.
The public also provides supplies as well as dontations such as animal toys, collars, food bowls, cushions, grooming tools and needed office equipment for the staff to use. It is also possible to be a foster parent to a pet. This is open to adults and young people aged between 12 and 17 in the Junior Foster Programme. The gift shop at the animal shelter offers tons of pet items for sale including tote bags, greeting cards, bumper stickers and food dishes.