Animal Protection Data

Denver Animal Shelter (DAS) continues to be Denver’s only full-service, open-admission animal shelter that accepts every animal that comes to its doors. Denver Animal Protection catalogues every type of animal that comes into the shelter, each breed, age and total number. The types of animals we take in include: dog, cat, bird, livestock, rabbits, small animals, reptiles, etc.

Our data also shows the different manners in which animals arrive at DAS, including as a: stray, owner surrender, confiscated by police, adoption return, transfer from another shelter or foster home.

We also track the top 10 breeds of animals we take in each year.

And finally, we track what happened with each animal. Outcome types include: adopt, RTO (return to owner), euth (euthanasia), transfer, foster, DOA (dead on arrival), relocate (wildlife moved to another location), died and missing (sometimes animals escape the shelter or they are stolen, this is rare).

As part of Socially Conscious Sheltering, we make appropriate euthanasia decisions to prevent and alleviate suffering for animals in our care. It is a decision we make with the utmost care and consideration. When a pet is diagnosed with a terminal condition or has a behavior issue that presents a risk to the community, DAS may consider humane euthanasia as the most compassionate option and best outcome for that animal. Each euthanasia decision is difficult, and every decision must consider the welfare of the individual animal.

Many animals that Denver Animal Shelter provides care for each year need additional support before they can be made available for adoption. The shelter provides that care through our Foster Program with the help of volunteers who open their homes.  This program metaphorically expands the walls of the shelter, enabling us to care for more animals for longer periods of time.

The Foster Program provides care predominantly for animals whose medical or behavioral conditions would improve more quickly outside of a shelter setting. Animals who enter foster care are generally underage or underweight puppies and kittens, as well as adult animals treated for minor to moderate medical conditions.

Denver Animal Protection's (DAP) community outreach efforts extend the reach of equitable animal services, resources, and information to under-resourced areas in Denver. Through proactive, door-to-door outreach, referrals for housing and enforcement compliance assistance, community events, and a consistent presence in the neighborhood, DAP helps families who face barriers in accessing important services for the animals they love--84% of these animals have never seen a veterinarian. We help spay/neuter animals, provide vaccinations, medical support, dental procedures, grooming, pet licenses, microchips, pet supplies, food and referrals.

DAP also offers the Temporary Pet Housing Program, which offers temporary shelter and care for pets of families experiencing temporary homelessness. This could be due to fire, domestic violence or hospitalization. DAP also provides this service to pet owners experiencing homelessness during severe cold weather (under 15 degrees).

Denver voters repealed a decades-old ban on pit bulls in November 2020. However, Denver residents may not own or keep a pit bull (American pit bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, and Staffordshire bull terriers) within the city without first receiving a Breed-Restricted Permit from Denver Animal Protection. To receive a permit, pit bull owners must first receive a breed evaluation. The evaluation determines if a pet is a restricted breed and needs a permit and a pet license. A permit is good for three years. After three years, if the dog has had no violations of Denver's animal protection ordinances, it will no longer need a permit to be legal in the city.

Colorado law requires all domestic animal bites to humans where skin is broken to be reported within 12 hours to the local animal control agency in the jurisdiction where the bite happened. Due to potential rabies exposure, all animals who have bitten humans and broken the skin are required to be placed on a 10-day quarantine, regardless of rabies vaccine history. This can be done either at the owner’s home, Denver Animal Shelter, or a veterinary hospital at the expense of the animal’s owner.

Denver Animal Protection tracks type of animal, breed, number of bites, bite severity, and the top 10 bite breeds in any given year, starting in 2018 to the current year.

Denver Animal Protection (DAP) provides animal care and protection services for all of Denver County. We foster the human-animal bond by protecting the safety and welfare of Denver's animals and people. DAP provides humane care to companion animals, reunites lost pets with owners, adopts pets to loving homes, educates public about animals and enforces animal ordinances. Our officers work every day, 24/7 to rescue lost, injured, neglected and mistreated animals as well as keep our community safe from dangerous animals.

DAP tracks the number of calls officers respond to each year, from 2018 to current, along with types of calls, including: investigation, stray, leash law, injured/distressed, barking, wild (relocate wild animal away from people), p/u cont (pick up contained stray), neglect, assist (assist other agency) and aggressive (an animal is acting aggressively to people and/or animals).