We understand that sometimes it becomes necessary to give up a pet. We welcome animals that must be relinquished.

The Dumb Friends League accepts cats, dogs and other small pets for relinquishment on a walk-in basis. We're not equipped to shelter livestock, reptiles, wild animals or other exotic pets. For information on where to take these animals, please call us at (303) 751-5772.

Please enter the shelter through the doors marked Pet Intake. Be sure that dogs are on leashes and cats or other small animals are in carriers. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee personal belongings, such as toys or blankets, will stay with your pet. We ask for a donation to help cover the cost of your pet’s care while he or she stays with us. Allow some extra time for us to gather information from you about your pet.

Please bring recent vaccination records, medical records, and be prepared to discuss your pet’s daily habits and behaviors.

We do offer appointments for pet relinquishment during normal business hours. To make an appointment, call us at (303) 751-5772.

We evaluate each animal on its health and behavior for our adoption program. Although we cannot guarantee placement for any animal, we are proud to adopt more than 15,000 pets into new homes every year.

If your pet dies at home

You are welcome to bring in the body of a pet that has died at home. Please come to the Pet Intake department. We will ask for a $20 donation.

Cremation services

You may choose to have your pet cremated with others for $50. We also offer individual cremation, which means your pet is cremated separately from any others. Mementos and blankets may be included. The cost for this service ranges from $100 to $230, depending on weight. Following an individual cremation, you may choose either to have your pet's ashes returned to you or have them placed in the columbarium in our pet memorial garden.