Blogathon 2009 – Blogging for the Denver Dumb Friends League

The Denver Dumb Friends League was founded in 1910, and is the largest animal shelter and animal welfare organization in Denver and the Rocky Mountain region. Its mission is simple:

The DFL is committed to the welfare of animals:

• We shall provide shelter and care for animals
• We shall provide programs and services that enhance the bond between animals and people
• We shall be advocates for animals … speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves

We were aware of the DFL for many years — they’re well known in the Denver metro area — but only first made use of their services a few years back. Their animal care facilities are remarkably humane, both caring for the animals (the dedication of the staff is clear) and providing comfortable environments for adopting pets.

We adopted a cat that day, Sugar, who unfortunately didn’t live with us long. 

We returned there earlier this year, and adopted Mimi, who’s turned out to be a delight. The process was professional, compassionate, and I was once again struck by the good work being done there, for the animals and their human adopters alike.

The Denver Dumb Friends League was named after a London animal shelter, “Our Dumb Friends League,” in the obsolete sense of “dumb” meaning “mute.” The name has been kept because of its recognition, and because of the way it “speaks” to that third mission statement.

The DFL:

• Provides shelter and care for more than 28,000 lost and abandoned animals every year
• Adopts homeless pets to new families
• Reunites lost pets with their owners
• Investigates animal cruelty and supports animal-friendly legislation
• Provides animal behavior assistance through classes, a free telephone helpline and the Internet
• Offers free pet-friendly housing referrals throughout Colorado
• Educates children and adults about the humane treatment of animals and the importance of spaying and neutering
• Offers highly subsidized spay/neuter for owned cats and dogs in underserved communities

The plight of domestic pets — cats and dogs, mostly, but not exclusively — abandoned, lost, or homeless for various reasons — moves me. I don’t call them “companion animals,” the current PC term for pets, but these critters are bred and raised to be cared for (and to enrich the lives of) humans. We have a societal and special obligation to see that their lives are fulfilling and happy — and that there are no more of them than there are homes for (hence my support of DFL’s strong spay/neuter policies).

People who choose to purchase purebred animals from whatever source can make that decision. For me, so long as there is a cat (or dog) that is without a family to care for it, I can’t see for myself encouraging the breeding of more cats or dogs just because I want one that’s a particular variety or pedigree. (I suppose one could, and some have, argue the same point for kids; it’s more easily made, though, with pets.)

The only part of DFL that is at all controversial is that it is not a “no kill” shelter. Animals there are, if necessary, euthanized. That’s a hard truth, but it’s one that important to face (and that drives the main part of the League’s mission). The flip side is that the DFL accepts every animal brought to it. I’ll talk more about all of that in a later post.  

I am blogging for the Denver Dumb Friends League for Blogothon 2009. I would welcome your supporting me and the DFL. So far I have over $270 in pledges — you can add to that number here. Thanks.