Background Statement
History of Animal Rescue of the Rockies
Animal Rescue of the Rockies (ARR) was founded in 2003 in Breckenridge, Colorado. Karen Martiny, the organization's founder, wanted to do something to honor her handicapped dog, Buffy, a former shelter dog. Buffy was a small Scottie Terrier-Poodle mix who became paralyzed in her hindquarters at age five from a ruptured spinal cord disc.
Surgery didn't fix the problem, so Buffy used a doggie wheelchair cart for the last 9 ½ years of her life. Buffy's determination and cheerful demeanor inspired everyone who met her. When Karen needed to do a community service project for a workshop she was attending, she realized helping other shelter pets would be the perfect way to honor her little trooper, Buffy. Animal Rescue of the Rockies was born as a result.
Gathering four friends to help with the endeavor, Karen traveled to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah to attend their workshop, "How to Start an Animal Sanctuary." The group came away armed with over 700 pages of information on how to start and operate a rescue organization. But more than that, they returned home with the determination to make their newly formed rescue group a success.
In 2009, Animal Rescue of the Rockies received 501(c)(3) non-profit status and opened our Cat Casita at High Paw Pet Supplies in Fairplay, Colorado. The Cat Casita provides a cage-free kitty playroom where adoptable cats enjoy living while they wait for their forever homes. Kerrie Lynn is our Cat Casita manager.
Our primary focus is to take in pets from overcrowded shelters in Colorado and surrounding states. Rescue pets are placed in qualified foster homes until loving forever homes are found. Adoptable cats are also housed at several PetSmart stores in the Denver area and at the PetSmart store in Grand Junction.
Animal Rescue of the Rockies holds adoption events at various venues throughout the year. Most of our adoptable pets are listed on our website, www.arrcolorado.org, and on several national online pet lists.
Our Board of Directors consists of 5 individuals from varying backgrounds, all of whom are very "hands on" in ARR's operations:
Karen Martiny - Board President/Executive Director Kelly Rushing - Board Member/Dog Division Director
Kristin Parsons - Board Member/Cat Division Coordinator
Katie Lawler - Board Treasurer
Sasha Galbraith - Board Member/Volunteer
Animal Rescue of the Rockies is also a partner in Best Friends Animal Society's No More Homeless Pets Network.