Animal Welfare Isn't Just about Adoptions Anymore

Over the course of the past 15 years my family has managed to adopt four dogs at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV). It was only natural for me to assume that HSBV’s mission is to place stray animals into good homes, particularly because that’s been the case for most of the organization’s history dating back to 1902. More recently, however, changes in animal welfare have started to make adoptions a facet of HSBV as opposed to its core mission.

You’ll notice that our mission statement reflects this by broadening our original focus to emphasize the relationships between pets and people:

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.

We’ve done such a thorough job of placing animals from the region that we’re able to provide support to communities across the country by transferring animals into our shelter. Our veterinary services no longer exist strictly to care for shelter animals - we’re able to offer them to the public for ongoing care. Our training and behavior resources are similarly available to the public these days.

You might even say that we haven’t been satisfied with providing animals with a second chance at life. We’re delivering on ways to make that life a healthy, happy one, and we’re expecting to continue that trend in the coming years. Expect to see additional service offerings from the organization in the coming months as we continue to evolve the organization to suit the needs of our community.

I’m incredibly proud to be taking part in an effort by the HSBV leadership team and board of directors to take some calculated risks as we move forward. If you’ve got thoughts on how the Humane Society of Boulder Valley can strengthen the bonds between pets and their owners, please let me know!

Puttin' On The Leash 2017

I've got a lot of reasons to be excited about 2017, with joining the board of directors for the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV) at the top of the list.

When my wife and I adopted our beloved mutt Zoe from HSBV 13 years ago I saw HSBV as an amazing resource for animals in need of a home. Years later, when I started to get to know the organization better by adopting our pit bull mix Zeke and volunteering with their events committee, I came to the realization that they serve people as much as they do the animals in their care.

HSBV provides homes for animals, to be sure, but in doing so, enriches the lives of the people that share them. In times of crisis, the organization supports families in need by providing emergency shelter for their animals. Training classes, particularly important for first time adopters, are held regularly on a variety of topics. The list goes on. 

Zeke's ready for Puttin' On The Leash 2017

I'll be headed to Putting On The Leash 2017 for the event's 25th anniversary on April 22nd and would love to see you there. If you're a little hesitant to attend like I was last year, know that it's a fun event with lots of ways to give to the organization.  I expected monocles and top hats. Instead it was puffy jackets and GORE-TEX (hey, it was snowing that night). Come join us if you're looking to pitch in a little!