Humane Society of Boulder Valley

A nonprofit organization

$229,720 raised by 1,157 donors

100% complete

$200,000 Goal

Gifts will be DOUBLED up to $100,000! 

Each year, the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV) impacts more than 16,000 animals, helping them find their new beginnings in the Boulder community or working to protect happy and healthy relationships by supporting thousands of existing pet-guardian relationships in our community through our Safety Net services.

Founded in 1902, our original charter included protecting children and women, and it eventually evolved to protect working livestock and companion animals. Today, HSBV’s mission to protect and enhance the lives of companion animals by promoting healthy relationships between pets and people is supported by critical services beyond animal adoptions.

HSBV is the only animal welfare organization in our service area offering an array of Safety Net options to provide access to pet food and supplies and temporary boarding during times of hardship or crisis – like natural disasters – to keep pets with their families, routine and emergency veterinary care, training and behavior services, and a critical transfer program to help overburdened shelters. 

Our open-admission, socially conscious shelter, provides care to any animal who comes through our doors. As our mission has expanded, we are making changes to address the increased demand for animal health, behavior and Safety Net services. 

Gifts will be DOUBLED up to $100,000! 

Like so many, HSBV has seen an increase in costs in 2022 and 2023, and we need your support to continue to help the pets and people who need us. Give now to help us meet our goal — as we continue to help animals — saving and changing lives through our mission.


Testimonials

"We adopted our new puppy from HSBV on September 14, two days after losing our dog in a tragic accident. Mia, who we renamed Ruby is thriving with us and is enjoying her life of adventure. Thank you for rescuing her! She is the medicine our family needed." - Lisa

"Thank you for participating in out-of-state transfers. I adopted my Great Pyrenees mix from HSBV before Xmas (she was a transfer). She was severely underweight, had skin problems and tested positive for heartworm - among other issues. I have the sweetest dog who is finally healthy and happy thanks to HSBV and others. You saved my dog's life and enriched the life of my family - especially during the pandemic. Thank you for all your work!" - Grateful adopter and donor.

"Dear Humane Society of Boulder, In 2005 (November 12 to be exact), I adopted a 3-year-old cat from you - you named him Osiris, but I called him Sam (and eventually Mows). I had to say goodbye to him on August 3 after almost 16 years together. We lived in Boulder, Los Angeles and now Sacramento. I'm writing today to say THANK YOU for giving me the wonderful gift of him in my life - he saved me more times than I can count. He had a long, wonderful, adventurous life, and that was because of your work to connect him with me. We will adopt again eventually, and I can only hope it's as fulfilling an experience as this was. THANK YOU FOR MY BABY." - Adopter

"I saw a local news report on TV that (HSBV) was among four (shelters) in the Denver area to receive dogs evacuated from a hurricane area in hopes they could be cared for and adopted. Added to the flow of other dogs taken in locally, I'm sure you've been extra busy! THANKS FOR YOUR WORK AND DEDICATION!" - Supporter/Donor

Mission

It is the mission of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV) to protect and enhance the lives of companion animals by promoting healthy relationships between pets and people.

Background Statement

The Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV) (formerly the Boulder County Humane Society) was formed in 1902 by a small group of spirited Boulder citizens "to promote the growth of sentiment favorable to the protection, care of, kindness to, and fair play towards animals; to secure the enforcement of laws for the prevention of cruelty to animals; to rescue lost and injured pets; to establish shelters for unwanted and stray animals."

In 1931, HSBV received a generous bequest from Mrs. Kate Harbeck, who resided for many years in Boulder. With this legacy, land was purchased on Arapahoe Road, a shelter, boarding facility and pet cemetery were established and remained until 1973. When HSBV incorporated in 1932, Miss Anna Belle Morris was elected president and served for 25 years until her death.

In 1973, HSBV built a facility at 2323 55th St. The building was approximately 11,000 square feet on 2.8 acres. In 1982, HSBV built an addition to house a spay and neuter clinic to sterilize adopted animals. The Denver Foundation provided funding for the Irene Rothgerber Puppy House, which was added on in 1985, to provide additional caging for puppies and other small animals.

In 1990, the Board of Directors set a goal to end the euthanasia of adoptable animals by 1996, and this goal was accomplished through our strategic New Leash on Life program. We have maintained this goal to date. HSBV was given a free lease for a Veterinary Clinic on Pearl Street in September 1990, and operating support from the Animal Assistance Foundation (AAF). HSBV moved the shelter clinic operations to Pearl Street and began offering subsidized spay and neuter surgeries for public animals. The AAF operated the clinic for 20 years, and in 1990, consolidated all operations into a new hospital, the Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital in Denver. The AAF provided grants to HSBV to support subsidized spay and neuter. In 2000, they signed the building over to our organization in support of the Capital Campaign for the new facility where the clinic and shelter will once again be under one roof.

In 1997, HSBV embarked on two new supporting businesses, a Thrift and Gift Shop and Pet Supply and Training Center. Both businesses supported the mission by raising vital funds and providing community service. The board authorized a capital campaign to build a new facility. The community rallied and raised 5.8 million dollars to build a 29,700-square-foot facility on the footprint that surrounded the original building. September 17, 2001, the animals moved into the new building, and we were open for business. The Veterinary Clinic moved to 2323 55th Street and the Clinic on Pearl Street was sold.

In 2007, the Training & Behavior Center was erected above the Clinic on the second floor. This space serves to enhance the rehabilitation of shelter animals and offers animal training classes to the public.

In 2021, HSBV launched the "Bold Future for Animals" Campaign. The campaign concluded in 2023 and funded the construction of an expanded veterinary hospital. This expansion allows us to meet the complex needs of shelter animals and to support the expansion of Safety Net services, providing greater access to veterinary care for shelter animals and the pets of our neighbors in need.

HSBV serves more than 16,000 animals annually through adoptions, animal transfers, veterinary services, behavior care and Safety Net services. Safety Net services are critical in supporting thousands of pet-guardian relationships in times of hardship, such as housing displacement, temporary illness and financial hardship. All of these efforts build and strengthen happy and healthy relationships between pets and people, saving and changing lives.

Thank you, for your generous support!

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

Humane Society of Boulder Valley

other names

HSBV, Boulder County Humane Society

Year Established

1902

Category

Animal-Related

Organization Size

Large Organization

Address

2323 55th
Boulder, CO 80301

Headquarters

2323 55th Street
Boulder, CO 80301

Service areas

Boulder County, CO, US

Phone

303-442-4030 637

Fax

303-565-5151

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