LA PLATA COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY ANNOUNCES
TRANSFORMATIONAL DONOR INVESTMENTS
Funds Being Used for Exterior Property Renovation and Care Cottage
For information contact:
Cassidy Crisp, 970 259 2847 ext. 108
- The La Plata County Humane Society received three major donor investments to fund a significant upgrade to its 7.5 acre property and to construct a dedicated Care Cottage on site for public pet euthanasia services.
- Planning and site preparations have been underway since late 2023 with work beginning in Q4 2024.
- The goal of the outdoor renovations is to improve the environment and adoption rate for the cats and dogs in our care. The Care Cottage will offer a peaceful place for people and their pets to say goodbye.
Durango, Colorado — Thanks to the generosity of three donors the La Plata County Humane Society (LPCHS) is able to significantly upgrade the beautiful but generally unimproved 7.5 acre property around its facilities. LPCHS has been in its current location since 1997.
The shelter underwent a $1.2M top-to-bottom renovation in 2022 to update systems and structures that experience heavy daily use. The property around the shelter and warehouse — which includes an easement granted to the city of Durango for the river trail and extends to the middle of the Animas River — is functional but underutilized.
These donor investments allowed a process of stakeholder input to determine how best to leverage the entire property for the benefit of the animals in our care. The result is a multiphase series of projects that incorporates industry best practices and takes full advantage of the unique and expansive location. These funds are restricted per the donors’ designation and cannot be used for any other purpose (e.g. payroll, food and medicine, operations, maintenance, etc.).
Exterior Property Renovation
Lifelong animal lovers Conni and Mike Williams initiated this transformational opportunity with significant investment in August 2023. Conni and Mike were already generous supporters of LPCHS but wanted to do more.
‘We know LPCHS has been doing yeoman’s work for many years and we felt that this was the right time for us to step up our support,’ says Conni. ‘I asked Tricia Simpson, LPCHS Board president, what they needed and she said the building was in good shape, but the property had lots of unrealized potential and suggested we focus on that. We loved that idea and how these projects will benefit the organization well into the future.’
After several site visits with key LPCHS staff and walk-abouts on every foot of the property, the vision started to take shape. With support from Kenn Bates of Durango Custom Works, a thorough stakeholder input process was undertaken to capture and prioritize a wish list of property modifications to increase the usable space and to improve the environment for the dogs and cats at the shelter. ‘Kenn’s background with the design of major US theme parks and municipal spaces proved invaluable in creating a master plan that goes beyond simple upgrades to create a truly integrated and user-friendly site for all stakeholders — both the two-legged and four-legged ones,’ says Julie Dreyfuss, LPCHS executive director.
LPCHS has assembled a small but mighty team of professionals who are working on the final details of design and permitting for the first three phases of the renovation — new, relocated play yards, a new free-range cattery and an update of the front facade to make the shelter and thrift store more accessible and appealing to the community and the dogs and cats. ‘Our animals are the top priority and the first phases of this project will offer an improved enrichment experience for them and a comfortable showcase for potential adopters to meet their new pets,’ says Dreyfuss.
Care Cottage
The most difficult time for many pet owners is making the decision about euthanasia. LPCHS offers euthanasia services to the public and LPCHS staff makes the transition as peaceful and comfortable as possible for pets and their owners.
Tricia and Danny Simpson and a benefactor who prefers to remain anonymous donated the funds to build a dedicated Care Cottage. It will be constructed behind the shelter so clients will be able to park and enter the cottage directly — bypassing the busy main lobby area — and have a comfortable, non-clinical setting to say goodbye.
‘Animal care facilities around the country have begun to shift to this model for end-of-life care when they can,’ says Colleen Dunning, LPCHS development manager. ‘The Care Cottage will be furnished like a cozy room at home with low lights and soft surfaces. We’ll also have an enclosed patio facing the river for animals that would be more comfortable outside. Our goal is to provide a calm and peaceful setting for animals and their owners, and a quiet respite area to take time before and after saying goodbye.’
‘LPCHS is grateful for the generosity of all its supporters with special thanks to Conni and Mike for a truly transformational gift,’ says Dreyfuss. ‘We look forward to documenting and sharing the progress of these projects as they get underway in the coming weeks.’
The La Plata County Humane Society is committed to enhancing and protecting the lives of companion animals by ensuring the provision of sustenance, safety and shelter, educating the community regarding humane treatment of animals, and preventing pet overpopulation.
###
Want to help support these improvement efforts?