There is no heat in the shelter, which is filled beyond capacity
by Brian Orr
WALSENBURG- Last week, temperatures at night dipped into the low 20s in Walsenburg. Four dogs at the Walsenburg Animal Shelter had to spend those nights outside, as the seven spaces inside were already full.
“We brought space heaters from our own homes, but it does nothing for the dogs outside,” said Carol Stevens, a volunteer at the shelter.
The furnace for the cinder-block building finally gave up the ghost this summer. It hasn’t really been an issue until recently, but it is rapidly going to be a matter of life or death as winter encroaches.
The shelter was built decades ago, and located outside of town, past the dump, and is in dire need of even basic maintenance. There are seven spaces inside and four outside, with no open area or dog run for the dogs kept there to exercise. “Those dogs just sit in their cages twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. I’m surprised depression hasn’t set in on some of these dogs,” Stevens said.
Dogs like Pedro, who has been at the shelter since May. He’s a mastiff mix; loving and friendly, but better off as the only dog in a home. Pedro and the other dogs don’t get walked very often as it is difficult to get volunteers to come out and take them outside.
Stevens has been working with Dan Spomer, another volunteer, to set up Friends of the Walsenburg Animal Shelter. Jen Lockhart is the treasurer for the group. They have established a 501C3 to be able to take donations and make them a tax write-off in order to fundraise to pay for repairs to the dilapidated building, with the long-term goal of buying another piece of property where a new shelter can be built. Gestures as simple as signing up to walk the dogs at the shelter or dropping off sacks of dog food are always welcome, but bigger amounts are going to be needed to affect real change.
“We have had some great volunteers and some wonderful donors, but we’re really going to need a lot more to do what we want to do for these dogs,” Stevens said.
Now here’s the editorial pitch; the World Journal encourages everyone to help out any way they can with Walsenburg’s animal shelter. It might be just dropping off some food, or taking a dog for a badly needed walk (you might need a walk, too!) And of course, any donations, small or large, would be a huge help. The paper is going to be running ‘Pet of the Week’ ads whenever there is a dog up for adoption. This week we’re starting off with- you guessed it- Pedro. Come give this Good Boy some scritches, see how sweet he is, and consider bringing him home with you.
To meet Pedro or any of the other dogs, or to volunteer, call Rebecca at 719-890-0777, or Carol at 719-557-2355.
