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Humane Society Calling It Quits

Posted on: Tuesday, 19 July 2005, 18:00 CDT

Colorado Humane Society is closing up shop Friday -- pulling out five months before the end of its two-year animaltrol contract with the city of Colorado Springs.

"It's business, it's simple business. We can't let it go down the tubes," said Bob Warren, Colorado Humane Society director of development.

"We have lost a ton of money on this contract. There was a lot of good faith on both parts, and it didn't work out."

The group, scheduled to be paid $729,000 by the city in 2005, has several hundred animals needing homes.

He said more than 30 employees were told Friday about the closing.

The director of the area's other humane society said Sunday that his organization will take over the operation on an interim basis at the request of the city.

"It has come as a surprise to us and on fairly short notice," said Wes Metzler, director of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. "There is nothing finalized at this point."

All animals in the care of Colorado Humane Society will be provided for, Metzler said.

City officials did not confirm interim plans Sunday, or what type of financial settlement might be made with Colorado Humane Society.

"My main concern is that we don't have any lapse in animal control and when people come in to adopt," said Councilman Jerry Heimlicher, who has been a critic of Colorado Humane Society.

"We are listening and negotiating what is best for the taxpayers, not just from a money perspective but for animals and animal lovers," Heimlicher said. "My main concern is nothing goes haywire there."

"I am eager to move forward, eager for this next step, eager to work to meet this community's needs," said Councilwoman Margaret Radford, another critic of Colorado Humane Society.

"There are a lot of issues here. I want to assure people we have a plan."

It has been a rocky 19 months for the Englewoodbased outfit.

Both groups have been under the same roof since 2004, when Colorado Humane Society got the contract for animal control for Colorado Springs.

The group underbid by $500,000 the bid of Pikes Peak Humane Society, which had the contract for 53 years and still serves the rest of El Paso County.

Colorado Humane Society lost more than $400,000 last year. It earned $191,580 on sales of pet licenses, compared with $417,669 brought in by Pikes Peak Humane Society the year before.

Besides financial losses, Colorado Humane Society has struggled with complaints from veterinarians who said they weren't getting paid, and citizens who complained about service.

"We hung in, and we were being vilified," Warren said.

He blames problems on unfulfilled promises by the city to provide more space and better working conditions.

The shelter's main entrance is through a garage. There are no restroom facilities for workers.

"It's a tenth-of-a-mile round trip simply to go to the bathroom. They have to physically leave the building," Warren said.

He cites inadequate quarters for things such as food preparation, training, laundry and cat care.

Warren, meanwhile, is looking for homes for the animals still in the his care.

"If people have been thinking about opening their home to an animal, now is a great time," he said.

"Most are strays picked up in Colorado Springs. We'd like them to stay in their hometown."

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0253 or abrown@gazette.com

Source: Gazette, The; Colorado Springs, Colo.

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