Colorado Animal Welfare League

CAWL Launches Lindsey’s Blog

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:54:04 +0000

We are so excited today to launch a brand new feature on our website! Lindsey’s Blog is the blog of our crazy cat coordinator who hopes to add fun and useful articles on bottle feeding kittens, being a foster mom and the general craziness with running the cat program here at CAWL. Lindsey has also lined up some great guest posters so stay tuned for great new content from her and her team! Congratulations Lindsey! We LOVE you!

Go to Lindsey’s Blog now!

Kids Making a Difference for CAWL

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:48:42 +0000

Charity abounds in Castle Rock, Colorado! This past weekend, six young philanthropists opened their treat stand on the side of the road selling their wares of cookies, doughnuts, and iced tea to passers by with the intention of donating their proceeds to help the animals at CAWL. Annie, Brady, Charlie, Emma, Kyle and Sarah are all close friends who often assist CAWL by helping out and playing with local foster dogs in the neighborhood.

Each helping in their own way, some by shouting “Treats for Charity!” at passing cars and pedestrians, some by donating funds from their own piggy banks, this group of elementary age kids worked hard and long raising money to help the dogs and cats of CAWL. In total, the group raised $46.78 which they proudly presented to us asking that we use it to save the animals.

We are proud to be part of such a great community and these kiddos should be proud of their efforts!

CAWL Orchestrates Massive Potcake Rescue

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 01:01:16 +0000

A “potcake” is the Bahamian term for the thick, leftover food that remains in the bottom of a pot of peas ‘n rice after several reheatings. Traditionally Bahamians fed potcake to the outdoor, indigenous dogs that freely populated the Bahamas. Hence, the dogs have come to be known as “potcakes”.

Early in the month of March, CAWL received a request from Kit DeRoche, the Managing Coordinator of the Operation Potcake Puppy Lift Office, desperately looking for rescues in the states that would be willing to accept transfer of dogs from the Humane Society of Grand Bahama (HSGB). In the prior year, 829 dogs and puppies were humanely euthanized by HSBG simply because there were not enough families on the island to adopt them.

HSGB averages an approximate 8% adoption rate for their animals. With lack of funding from the local government and the government ban on foreign Veterinarians and volunteers working field spay/neuter clinics as of February 2011, HSBG and humane advocates in Grand Bahama are fighting a losing battle effecting trying to control and manage the pet overpopulation on the island.

Determined to make a difference in the plight of these animals, one of CAWL’s Directors, Megan Weber, steps up to orchestrate a massive dog rescue coordinating with HSGB, the Potcake Puppy Lift team, and eight local rescues to bring as many dogs as possible to find homes in Colorado. According to Weber, “I felt compelled to help because every life matters.”

Weber’s first order of business was to email and call as many Colorado animal welfare contacts as she could – pleading with them to open their program to accept a potcake. Additionally she used all of her resources to solicit new foster homes within CAWL. Weber was able to find placement for a staggering 64 potcakes in Colorado, with a total of 16 adult potcakes taken directly into CAWL foster homes.

Once placement was found for the dogs, Weber took on the massive coordination effort working tirelessly with the Bahamas team, the Ft. Lauderdale team, and the local rescues to fly the dozens of dogs to Colorado.

After mechanical plane failures in Grand Bahama, missed flights in Ft. Lauderdale, and a four hour flight to Denver, a total of 61 dogs arrived at Denver International Airport on staggered flights on the 19th, 20th, and 21st of April with three more scheduled to arrive the following weekend. Volunteers were required in Grand Bahama to vet and crate the dogs, in Ft. Lauderdale to receive the dogs, walk and water the dogs, to get them on their connecting flights to Denver, and in Denver volunteers were needed to receive the dogs and transport them to their foster homes or new shelter for adoption.

When asked why such focus on such a massive undertaking Weber replied, “We try hard to help shelters that help themselves. HSGB was working with many volunteer organizations to save the lives of their dogs that were born into a horrible situation. They reached out to us and clearly cared about each and every animal in their care. As a result of their efforts, every single potcake that we received from the HSGB is wonderfully socialized and extremely adoptable. Colorado now loves their dogs as much as they do.”

CAWL wishes to thank the following organizations that participated in Operation Potcake Puppy Lift – Denver:

Humane Society of Grand Bahama
Operation Potcake Puppy Lift
Pet Food Project (organized crate shipments)
The Kohn Foundation (donations for flights)
Retriever Rescue of Colorado
Life is Better Rescue
My Second Home Rescue
Every Creature Counts
Longmont Humane
Planet Pet
Stormy Weathers Animal Rescue
Animal Rescue of the Rockies

Taco – Chi/Shiba Inu Mix

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 20:11:53 +0000

Taco is a small affectionate dog. He is 11 lbs, neutered and vaccinated. He is good with dogs, cats and kids over 10 yrs. Taco is great in the car. He loves a lap but needs to be exercised as well, like most small dogs do. Taco will do well in a home with another dog. Taco is super soft if you are firm with him. He is crate trained, does great at the dog park, LOVES his people… and adores his dog friends. He would probably just love to be hugged and cuddled for all infinity. He’s about 4 years old, but still as energetic as a pup. In a day or so, he’ll be looking up to YOU to cuddle and love. He’d do best in a home with older kids.

Help CAWL Purchase our Spay/Neuter Clinic

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:57:51 +0000

CAWL is executing plans to upgrade our Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic to make it bigger and better than ever! Through our mobile clinics, CAWL has spayed/neutered over 1900 animals since mid-2010 and we intend to this better than ever as we roll out our new program!

Spaying and neutering is the only way to prevent unintended dog and cat litters from stray and feral animals as well as pets with homes, thus reducing the pet overpopulation problem in Colorado.

Logo sponsorships are still available for a minimum $5000 donation. Contact CAWL for more information on sponsorship opportunities!

Our new mobile clinic will provide a clean, safe, indoor area for surgery, surgery prep and recovery kennels. We are super excited about our upgrade plans and hope that you are excited too. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation towards our purchase of the new Mobile Clinic and be a part of the CAWL's newest adventure!

$61,735Raised75,000Target

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MochaToo Goes to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:44:23 +0000

By: Lisa Petri, CAWL President

MochaToo may be the luckiest rez dog in the world.

CAWL’s first ever spay/neuter trip to the reservations of the four corners area lead us to MochaToo. She was completely feral and in an Animal Control holding pen. CAWL brought MT and about 10 other dogs back to Denver in June 2009. All the other dogs were adopted pretty quickly, but MT would not even walk if anyone was around. She only moved when she was alone.

I put MT in a stall in my barn. She did not leave the stall even with the door open for over three weeks. She ate and drank when no one was looking. She always went potty in the same corner. She would not look at you. I would go in the stall twice a day to feed her, clean and then sit with her for a while. I would get closer and closer by the day. Soon, I started touching her hind end. MT would urinate every time I touched her. This went on for months. Finally, one day, I left the barn door open. I knew there was a chance that she would run away but she hadn’t been outside for weeks and I had to try something. For hours, she stayed inside. Then I saw her standing in the doorway. She saw me and ran back to the stall. I knew I had her! She would not run.

Over four months she and I slowly–very very slowly–formed a relationship. I could touch her all over and she would follow me around the property to do chores. MT always returned to her stall but winter was coming and in order for her to improve even more, she had to move to the house. While, she would follow me in the open, she would not follow me into the house. My husband, Kyle, and I carried her to the house one night and put her in the fenced back yard. She knew all of our dogs but had never been inside a house. We left the back door open in order for her to come in on her own and after only about a week, she did. MT, by her own decision, was in the house.

The next year was more of the same. MT started to trust me more and even started coming up to me for attention. I could still only pet a few spots when she approached me but she was approaching me. I started making her sit for her food, and being a Retriever, she was food motivated! The one thing that MT never understood was walking on a leash. Anytime, she felt any pressure on her collar, she would lie down and almost go comatose. I let her drag a leash around for five days, and coupled her with my Border Collie, she still never would walk more than a few steps and then drop to the floor. I am not proud to say that I even tried the tough love thing and dragged her about six feet one time. Please do not try this with a scared dog, as you know that it did not make her any less scared.

After more than a year, I had pretty much decided that MT was who she was. I loved her and she loved my dogs so she sat here. While she was available on our website for adoption, not many people called on a dog that they would have to carry home. While I was resigned to the fact that she would stay here and we would play musical rooms with the cats, MT was never cat safe, Lisa G knew that MT could be so much more, so she contacted Best Friends and wrote the nicest request for help that I have ever read. It worked and MT was accepted into Best Friends for training and rehabilitation. While I cried filling out the paperwork to transfer MT to the largest sanctuary in the country, I knew it was the best for thing for her.

Many plans were made and many emails sent. We left on Friday January 6^th for Utah. I loaded the truck with her kennel, blanket, water bucket and her food. At 4:25 am Kyle and I carried MT to the truck. Even though she was so scared, she tried so hard just like every other day of her life. Ten hours later we arrived at Best Friends. Everyone that helped me check MT in and carry her to her quarantine kennel was so kind even though I was crying my eyes out and looked like a huge fool. I wanted to stay calm and make her feel confident but it did not go that way. MT did amazing considering I was a wreck. Paul, the care giver of so many shy animals, assured me that MT would walk on leash and get adopted. I nodded. I had spent over a year and a half trying and was shocked that he was so confident.

I planned to stay and volunteer for the next couple of days but had already said my goodbyes to MT. It would just confuse her to see me so on Saturday I worked in other areas and learned a lot. During one of my breaks, Michelle, a trainer, saw me and let me know that she just carried MT in to the HQ for an initial exam. Michelle said that MT was very good for being carried. Later that day another volunteer, Sue, told me that she checked in on MT and she was doing very well. Obviously MT was doing much better than I was!

Sunday was the same with volunteering and getting updates on MT. Everyone at Best Friends could not have been nicer and they all thought MT was gorgeous. It was great to hear it. Paul told me after my lunch break that MT went on a walk over lunch. While it was not pretty she was walking on a leash after only two days there. She is well on her way to being adopted! Lucky little girl.

Chip – Chocolate Labrador Retriever Mix

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:04:32 +0000

Chip is 1-2 year old, male, Chocolate Labrador Retriever Mix. He up to date on his vaccinations and he is neutered.

Chip is good with dogs and children. He is very sweet but shy because he has lived on a chain his whole life as you can see by his picture. He is very happy now that he is free from his bondage and would love to come home with a great family during the holidays!

Our adoption fees for Chip are $150.

Please contact CAWL at 720-515-CAWL for more information about Chip.

Sweetie – Pit Bull/American Bulldog Mix

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:23:46 +0000

Sweetie is an 8-10 month old, female, Pit Bull/American Bulldog mix puppy.

Sweetie is a rescue that was about to put down this past week. She is great with people, dogs, likes to ride in the car, and is crate trained. She came from a high kill shelter and was kept in a small concrete cage. She is so happy to be able to run and play now! She likes to snuggle and go for walks. Please help her find her forever home for the holidays!

Our adoption fees for Sweetie are $175.

Please contact CAWL at 720-515-CAWL for more information about Sweetie.

Lola – Border Collie Mix

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:16:29 +0000

Lola is a 5-6 month old, 25 pound, female, Border Collie mix.

Lola has sit mastered and is super close on lie-down. She knows her name and is really trying to get better at shake. Lola is super friendly and loves to play. She loves children, people and dogs. Lola LOVES to run and go to the dog park.

Our adoption fees for Lola are $175.

Please contact CAWL at 720-515-CAWL for more information about Lola.

Thank you so much to Kim for fostering Lola!

Axel – Miniature Pinscher Mix

Beth Lazar @ CAWL — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:10:51 +0000

Axel is an approximately 5 year old, 20 pound, male, Miniature Pinscher Mix. He is neutered and up to date on all of his vaccinations.

Axel loves to go running and biking with his foster mom. He does well with dogs, cats and children. He LOVES the 12 year old girl at his foster home. Axel is incredibly cuddly and sweet. He is house trained and nondestructive.

Our adoption fees for Axel are $175.

Please contact CAWL at 720-515-CAWL for more information about Axel.

Thank you so much Sharon for fostering Axel!