PetAid Colorado

A nonprofit organization

PetAid Colorado weaves a safety net of programs to benefit vulnerable pets in need. Collaborating with veterinarians and community partners, we deliver a vast array of programs that fulfill a rapidly growing need to provide medical services to save the lives of animals who are helpless and hurting.

Testimonials

Olive is an eight-year old Welsh terrier who delights the PetAid Animal Hospital staff time and time again when she comes in every two weeks for her check-ins. It's not hard to see why. With her incredibly outgoing nature and adorable teddy bear appeal, Olive is a truly special dog who fought to survive after being diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a disease that causes the body to attack and destroy its own red blood cells.

Olive's owner, Susan, began to notice something was very wrong when the usually energetic terrier became extremely lethargic and disoriented due to low oxygen levels in her brain. Olive's symptoms became increasingly worse to the point where she could no longer walk. "It was terrible to see her like that," says Susan with tears in her eyes, "she would stand up and was so listless that even a gust of wind could easily knock her over." When Olive finally got to the point where she needed to be carried to the food bowl to eat, Susan rushed her to their local veterinary clinic. There, numerous tests were performed from bone marrow examinations to a urinalysis to an abdominal ultrasound.

These recommended tests steadily became financially overwhelming, and Susan panicked as she was no longer able to afford the continued medical services required to save Olive's life: "She was on death's door-that's not an exaggeration. But then Olive lifted up her head and looked at me, she was still fighting to live, and there was no way I could let her down."

Much to Susan's great relief, Olive was referred to PetAid Animal Hospital where her life was saved thanks to the veterinary care subsidies provided by our kindhearted and compassionate donors. Our devoted medical team was able to outline a treatment plan specific to Olive's needs based on her diagnostic test results, and her condition started to slowly improve after being prescribed the appropriate drug treatments. Since relapses are common with this disease, Olive has continued to come to the hospital on a regular basis so we can monitor her closely as the medications have steadily decreased.

Every day, Susan is absolutely overjoyed to still be in "my little teddy bear's company," and is especially grateful to PetAid for giving Olive a second chance to live a life free from discomfort, pain, and disease. Olive and Susan and are just one example of how PetAid keeps pets and their people together by expanding access to quality veterinary care for those in need to prevent suffering, euthanasia, and abandonment. We hope you will join us in our commitment to not only helping people and pets who are less fortunate; but most importantly, keeping them together in forever homes.

Mission

PetAid Colorado keeps pets and their people together by expanding access to quality veterinary care for those in need.

Background Statement

PetAid Animal Hospital is Colorado's largest, comprehensive, non-profit veterinary hospital. The hospital grew out of the vision of Louise Collbran Harrison, granddaughter of Adolph Coors, who founded the Coors brewing empire. Knowing that thousands of pets were being euthanized each year at animal shelters, Ms. Harrison wanted to save the lives of as many of these animals as possible. Wisely identifying an important solution, Ms. Harrison began to support spay/neuter programs. She also took care of dozens of cats in her home and made sure that none of them went to a new home without being spayed or neutered.

In 1976, Ms. Harrison opened a spay/neuter clinic, Queen City, in a low-income Denver neighborhood. Another clinic opened the following year in Denver's Capitol Hill, and later a third clinic was established in Boulder. The clinics were in response to an estimated 86,000 unwanted dogs and cats that were being euthanized each year in Denver's animal shelters. In 1999, the number of euthanized pets in the Denver area was less than 14,000-a remarkable decrease due in large part to the more than 210,000 surgeries Harrison Memorial had performed.

By the mid-1980s, the clinics had outgrown their facilities and were unable to adequately address another growing animal welfare need in the Denver metro community: veterinary care for pets belonging to owners who are struggling to afford treatment. All three clinics were consolidated by 1990 into a large, modern veterinary hospital called Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital, which was designed to serve the changing needs of pets and their people in the greater Denver community.

The Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation (CVMF) and Harrison Memorial Animal Hospital collaborated with one another in January 2007 to create the CVMF Harrison Center for Animals, thereby significantly increasing their abilities and impact in increasing medical services for vulnerable pets in need.

On May 13, 2012, the Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation (CVMF) changed its name to PetAid Colorado. The Board of Directors undertook this process with both trepidation and excitement, as well as with the utmost care and respect for the organization's history and its founders. At the same time, this new identity maintains our vision in ensuring that all underprivileged pets are able to receive the veterinary care they need to remain healthy and bonded with their human companions.

Organization Data

Summary

Organization name

PetAid Colorado

other names

PetAid, Colorado Veterinary Medical Foundation

Year Established

2002

Tax id (EIN)

84-1612045

Category

Animal-Related

Address

191 Yuma Street
Denver, CO 80223

Mailing

191 Yuma Street
Denver, CO 80223

Service areas

Denver County, CO, US

Phone

303-318-0447

Other

303-539-7635

Other

303-539-7638

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