Dumb Friends League history

In 1911, Doctor Mary Bates joined the team, providing invaluable support, including physical office space and significant funding.

As the incoming animal population grew, so did our need for space, and a larger shelter was built at the same site and opened in 1949.

In 1962, the Rocky Mountain News reported on our fund drive, featuring Smokey, Shelter Chairman Mrs.

But, by 1972, this shelter was inadequate to handle its burgeoning population, and the League purchased 20 acres near Quebec Street and Evans.

With construction completed in 1974, the new shelter opened, and the League still operates from this location today.

Later the West Receiving and Adoption shelter in Lakewood opened in 1983 to serve residents of the west metropolitan area.

To meet the ever-growing demand for animal welfare, in 1986 the League used an estate gift to expand the Quebec Street Shelter.

The foster program began in 1987 with just two volunteers.

Behavior was started in 1991 in order to give every animal the best possible chance at adoption.

And, in 1999, the organization undertook a major capital campaign to build a shelter for Douglas County and to again significantly enlarge the Quebec Street Shelter, which is now known as the Leslie A. Malone Center.

In 2002, the Buddy Center opened in Castle Rock.

Since 2010, CHS works to prevent and investigate cases of animal neglect and mistreatment and promote animal welfare throughout Colorado, giving pets and equines a second chance.

Abused and neglected horses, ponies, donkeys and mules that have been removed from their owners by law enforcement officials were able to find the rehabilitation, care, training and new loving homes they needed when the Dumb Friends League Harmony Equine Center opened in Franktown in 2012.

More recently, Solutions–Veterinary Hospital and Solutions–Cat Spay/Neuter were opened in the latter part of 2018 in response to a community need for low cost veterinary care and spay/neuter services.