Humane Society Of Boulder Valley


Boulder, Colorado

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About The Humane Society Of Boulder Valley

“It is the mission of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley to protect and enhance the lives of companion animals by promoting healthy relationships between pets and people.”

The Humane Society Of Boulder Valley is a private, non-profit organization that runs on generous donations and fundraising efforts. Founded in 1902, they've been providing help to companion animals for over 100 years in Boulder and surrounding communities. With an open-admission policy, any animal in need of either shelter or medical attention will be taken in and cared for.

Each year around 7,000 animals pass through their doors. Many have been transferred from other over-crowded and under-served shelters in the surrounding region. The dedicated team at the Humane Society Of Boulder Valley provides critical services to the animals in their care. An impressive Training and Behavior Center offers shelter dogs the opportunity to be trained onsite, increasing their chances for adoption. The center is also open to the public for community classes and canine training.  

The Humane Society Of Boulder Valley works hard to reduce the number of pet-surrendered animals by offering financial support and behavior classes to those struggling to cope. Considering adopting? Why not choose an animal from the Humane Society Of Boulder Valley today. Find your new best friend and help save a life!

Contact Info

Address:
2323 55th St
,
Boulder
,
CO
80301
Phone:
(303) 442-4030
Email:
trainingcenter@boulderhumane.org
Website: boulderhumane.org

Hours of Operation

Mon - Sun: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Adoption Process

All animals currently available for adoption are listed on the shelter’s website. If you find a pet that steals your heart, you can begin the adoption process by filling out an online application questionnaire:

  • Dogs here
  • Cats here
  • Other small animals here

A member of the shelter's team will contact you only if you're the first in line to meet the animal you've indicated on your adoption form. Applications are processed and appointments made on a first-come, first-served basis.

Their friendly staff is committed to determining the best match possible and will work with you to find your perfect companion.

If for any reason after the adoption is finalized you find that you and your new pet aren't compatible, the shelter accepts returns.

Adoption Fees

Adoption fees at the Humane Society Of Boulder Valley vary according to age, size, behavior, breed, and health condition. Each animal’s adoption fee is listed on their online profile. Here are the typical fee ranges:

  • Dogs/puppies: $49-$449
  • Cats/kittens: $10-$199
  • Other small animals: $5-$149

Adoption Process & Fees

Our writing team is hard at work researching this shelter's adoption process and fees, so this page will be updated soon!

In the meantime, here's some nice-to-know info that applies to nearly every animal shelter, humane society, and rescue.

Why Rescue A Shelter Dog?

Because shelter dogs are full of love!

Is it because they know you saved them and love you harder for it?

I can't say for certain, but yes.

Jokes aside, there are three things all shelter dogs need to thrive in their new home:

  1. Love
  2. Patient
  3. Training

Older shelter dogs, generally 1+ years old, may have experienced a lot of trauma, which often results in one of 8 common behavioral issues:

  1. Anxiety
  2. Aggression toward people & pets
  3. Resource guarding
  4. Destructive behavior
  5. Housetraining regression
  6. Poor social skills
  7. Leash reactivity & barrier-related aggression
  8. Constant whining

These issues are correctable! Your dog isn't broken, they're just damaged. You can fix them with enough love, patience, and a good training plan.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, finding good dog trainers can be hard. Like everything else, dog training is moving only. but there are great online dog trainers that are proven to work and can help get your new pup on the right path.

Animal Shelter vs Humane Society vs Rescue: What's the Difference?

You can learn a lot about an animal welfare organization just by looking at their name.

Animal Shelters

  • Most Animal Shelters are city or county-run organizations, often operated by the local Animal Control department, that manage strays and handle owner surrenders.
  • They usually have kennel facilities you can visit to adopt animals, and they usually have less stringent adoption requirements, lower adoption fees, and same-day adoptions (because their goal is to get animals out of the shelter).
  • Unfortunately, they usually know very little about each animal, including their true personalities and any behavioral problems.

Humane Societies

  • Most Humane Societies are non-profit organizations, many of which are no-kill shelters.
  • Some (but not all) are affiliated with The Humane Society of the United States.
  • They exist to improve animal welfare in the local community and often partner with city or county-run Animal Shelters that often euthanize animals due to capacity restraints.
  • They usually have kennel facilities, sometimes at multiple locations, and usually offer other services to the community such as low-cost spay/neuter clinics, community education programs, and more.
  • They may also have some animals in foster care.
  • There's a lot of variation in process and fees among Humane Societies, but they usually have really good websites that detail everything for you.

Rescues

  • Most Rescues are foster-based organizations that don't have physical facilities.
  • They usually have websites and contact emails, but not all of them have phone numbers.
  • Because they don't have a physical facility, you need to view animals in their foster network online, usually on their website but sometimes on their member pages on either PetFinder or Adopt-a-Pet.
  • If you see an animal you'd like to meet, contact the rescue using the process listed on their website or via email. They'll help you through the application process and set up a time for you to meet the animal at the foster's home.
  • Adopting from a rescue generally is the most expensive option here and takes the longest, but you get an animal that's been cared for in a loving home environment and their foster can tell you a lot about their personality.

6 Tips to Improve Your Adoption Experience

Adoption processes vary drastically from organization to organization, but here are some general tips that apply in most instances. Note that we'll use the term "shelters" here for simplicity but it includes all types of rescue organizations.

  1. See an animal online that you'd like to meet? Call the shelter before your visit to make sure the animal is still available. This especially applies for puppies, which are adopted out quickly.
  2. Usually, you'll need to get some paperwork in order: a photo ID, vaccination/medical records for any pets you currently have, possibly your vet's contact info and a couple of personal references, and (for renters) proof you're allowed to have a pet (copy of your lease or your landlord's contact info).
  3. If you need to provide contact info for your vet, let your vet know ahead of time. Otherwise, they may not release your information.
  4. Many shelters require your current dogs to meet adoptive dogs. Your current dogs need to be up-to-date on vaccinations.
  5. Some shelters require you to schedule a home visit to ensure a suitable living environment for the new animal.
  6. Adoption fees may seem excessive, but they're actually amazing values. Truthfully, caring for a pet is expensive. Most adoption fees include required medical care to get the animal ready for their new home including (but not limited to) spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, general vet exams, flea/tick treatment, deworming, heartworm testing/treatment for dogs, and feline leukemia and feline AIDS testing/treatment for cats. In general, your adoption fee is less than the cost of this care, so you're saving money in addition to your new animal's life!

If you have any questions about adopting an animal (what you'll need, what to expect, etc.) feel free to contact the PetLists team!

For more information about what's included in your adoption fee, or any other questions about the adoption process, reach out to
Humane Society Of Boulder Valley
in
Boulder
,
Colorado
directly using the contact info above.

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Other Shelters in

Colorado

Curious about other shelters? Here's 6 more. You can also browse all
animal shelters in
Colorado
.


You can also go back to our listing of all 50 states to find shelters elsewhere in the US.
All information on this page is accurate and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge. If you spot an error, please contact us using our contact form.
Note: Hours of operation and other information on this page are subject to change during the COVID-19 pandemic.