COVID-19 Impact
Thriving
In these tough times
When we learned about the COVID-19 virus spreading, we immediately took measures to keep our staff, community, and pets safe. We began sending adoptable pets into foster homes to reduce foot traffic in the shelter, limited our public veterinary services, and parked the Wellness Waggin’ in the lot. We were saddened to temporarily reduce or cancel services so vital to the pets in our community, but with the virus spreading so quickly, we knew it was what was best for everyone.
COVID-19 impacted our shelter drastically; our revenue from adoptions and veterinary services was greatly reduced. Unfortunately, we also had to postpone our largest fundraising event of the year, and ultimately hosted a virtual event. Our signature event, Pawtoberfest, also went virtual and was transformed into a week-long fundraising event. The funds we receive from these services and events are critical to continuing to provide lifesaving care to pets in our community. We were concerned we wouldn’t be able to help as many pets and people with so many changes to our fundraising efforts.
This program was designed to help prevent loving pet parents from surrendering their animal due to a needed medical service they could not afford. HSPPR admits pets to this program through an application process, and in return, the owners pay a portion of the expenses that makes the care affordable to them. Reuniting these animals with their loving families means fewer animals in the shelter and more pets in homes. 2020 was an important year for our Outreach program and we anticipate the need for such services to continue increasing in the future.
We know the effects of COVID-19 and a year like 2020 will have a lasting impact on our community for years to come. But we have many things to celebrate from 2020! The stay-at-home orders found people spending more time at home and wanting furry companions to be there with them as well. While we adopted out fewer animals in 2020 than in 2019, we also saw fewer animals come through our doors for this same reason. It may seem there was little to celebrate in 2020, but for HSPPR, we are excited to see more pets and people together.
Your kindness and generosity gives us hope for a brighter future, and we look forward to all we can accomplish together. Thank you for caring so passionately and helping countless pets and people during the COVID-19 pandemic. You gave pets like Jake a second chance and happy tail! Keep reading to see your impact on animals in need in 2020.
Meet jake
Jake, only 6 months old, is the wiggliest, cutest little guy! He came in as a stray, was limping heavily on his right hind leg, and had a healed burn scar down his back. After some X-rays, our veterinary staff determined that Jake had a severe fracture. He was quickly sent to one of our orthopedic veterinary partners to repair his leg. He needed four or more weeks of foster care to recover from his surgery, right as COVID-19 began to hit Colorado. Thankfully, our community rallied around the shelter, and many families came forward to foster animals in their homes.
Impact by the numbers
Adoptions and reunions and saved lives, oh my! See all the numbers behind the magic YOUR kindness created.
