I wanted to share with everyone that didn't know about HB21-1160, that it has reared its ugly head again this year.  This bill effectively eliminates the option of a true no-kill shelter as this bill would deem as neither "Healthy nor Safe".

I personally know that MaxFund No-Kill Animal Shelter is one of the places that will be highly impacted by this bill.  I am a volunteer and through my volunteer time I fell in love with a dog that was deemed unadoptable.  Because MaxFund is so great at working with the animals and making sure they are ready to be in a home before they even open up the possibility of adoption, had I not come along, my special boy would have never lived life outside of MaxFund, or possibly Majestic which is a long-life safe haven for dogs that can’t be deemed safe.  More on that to come.  My pup was approved walkers only, which meant that I had to get special permission to even interact with him.  Not because he was aggressive, or was mean, but because he was scared.  It is very apparent that his past contained many different forms of abuse and because of that, he is triggered A LOT.  When he is scared, he does just about everything he can (including biting) to get out of the situation.  I was approved quickly (because I have past experience with abused animals and can become the alpha quickly) and began working with him.  I took him on “field trips” every week to see what triggered him, and to give him extra stimulation.  After two months of constant work and home visits, I brought him home.  He has adjusted beautifully to normal life and is thriving in a strong and caring environment.  Without MaxFund, and the work that they do with not only “non-safe” dogs, but dogs that are sick or injured and they nurse them back to health, I would not have my special pup.  He is my constant companion, and my cuddle bug.  He just needed someone to give him a chance.  

Just because animals aren’t ready to be adopted, doesn’t mean that they will live a bad life.  Some go to fosters, some will stay at the shelter and some will graduate to a magical place called Majestic.  Majestic is a mountain home for wayward dogs who can’t be rehabbed into a regular home.  Each one has a large enclosure where they can run and play and live out their life in a stress-free environment.  Just because a dog doesn’t get to eventually live in a traditional home doesn’t mean that they are miserable or abandoned or mistreated.  Even at MaxFund, the dogs interact with volunteers and staff daily and if possible put in play-groups where they can interact with other appropriate dogs.  They are socialized, taught commands and manners, loved, cuddled; and bottom line, they are ALIVE AND SAFE.  

Please take a moment to sign this petition so that we may present to the legislature a strong and united front that all animals matter; and just because they have experienced trauma, it shouldn’t be a death sentence.  There are too many high-kill shelters now, so let the ones who are willing to do the hard work continue to do so.

You can also find out more information here: https://www.nokillcolorado.org/sb20164-socially-conscious-sheltering-bill-colorado

Here are the email addresses to the representatives/senator that are taking this bill forward:
Rep Monica Duran monica.duran.house@state.co.us
Rep Matt Soper matthew.soper.house@state.co.us
Senator Ginal joannginal52@gmail.com
Contact your legislators in the district where you live: http://leg.colorado.gov/find-my-legislator
Also contact First Gentleman Reis at marlon.reis@state.co.us as he may want to help our cause as well.