DOWNEY – Even though the holidays have come to a close, twenty-five lucky dogs from Downey will receive a late Christmas gift this month when they get a second chance at adoption in Denver.

After receiving a $500,000 donation, the Denver Dumb Friends League of Colorado contacted SEAACA and several other animal shelters in California looking to save more than 100 small dogs, mostly Chihuahuas, from euthanasia.

“We know moving animals around is not the answer,” said Aaron Reyes, Director of Operations at SEAACA. “We’ve seen an influx of Chihuahuas and more small breed dogs – we don’t move the animals through here – so right now, we’re relying on transports to ease the overcrowding in the shelter.”

Dr. Leslie Capin, who donated the funds, offered to help the private, non-profit organization rescue the dogs after hearing that many small breeds, especially Chihuahuas, were not being adopted from many California shelters.

Michelle Ray, spokesperson for the Denver Dumb Friends League, said for some shelters half of the animals in their care are Chihuahuas or Chihuahua mixes, making their need for transfer even greater.

“We take in transfers from across the country, state and region– we take any animals in need,” Ray said. “Denver is an extremely pet-loving community – we care for more than 25,000 animals each year and place nearly 19,000.”

The day after Christmas, 33 dogs from both SEAACA and the LA County Animal Care and Control Centers boarded a Pet Airways plane at Hawthorne Airport and flew to Denver in the first of three scheduled flights to the shelter.

Yesterday, more than 30 Chihuahuas and small breeds were flown to the Denver animal shelter and on Jan. 7, the humane society will receive another 50 dogs from shelters in Northern California.

Founded in 1910, the Denver Dumb Friends League is the largest animal welfare organization in the Rocky Mountain region. The organization vows to speak on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves, those often referred to as “dumb” during the early 20th century.

For Reyes, these dog transports demonstrate just how hard animal shelters work to save the lives of the pets they keep.

“There is a surplus of dogs and cats in this planet of ours and no owner is coming for them,” Reyes said. “This is a very stressful time economically – we’re trying to be as creative as possible to manage this and get them out the front door.”

Ray hopes that all of the dogs coming to Denver from California will find homes.

“As of earlier today, 18 of the Chihuahuas have found homes in Colorado,” said Ray. “We’re just grateful to be able to take these animals in and give them a second chance at happiness.”

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Published: January 1, 2010 - Volume 8 - Issue 37