Shipley’s Trusted Housesitting

02/13/2024

HAPPY UPDATE: SAFE!!!

1 PUP NEEDS RESCUE BY 2/18!! ♥️

There is 1, medium sized pup at the Rocky Ford Shelter who needs a PACFA approved rescue to tag before 2/18!!! Hwy 50 is set up to transport this guy to his new rescue, we typically transport up to CO Springs and Denver, but are able to transport elsewhere in CO for a committed rescue!

Please let me know if you’re seriously interested in fostering and we can help find a rescue for you, rescues are in desperate need of fosters which is typically what prevents them from tagging immediately. And please share if you can’t foster, everything helps!!!

Thank you all!!! ❤️🐾

SAFE! Tagged by MaxFund No-Kill Animal Shelter and Adoption Center ❤🥳

Hi again rescues! There is only one dog so far this week in the Rocky Ford Shelter. His time is up Sunday 2/18, please let us know if your rescue can help!

Meet Pete (3-5 year old male, 35lbs) 🐾

My name is Pete and the shelter staff says I'm 35 pounds of 100% goodness. I am stuck in the Rocky Ford doggie jail and no one knows why because I'm simply precious. I am a love bug with people and I don't even potty in my kennel. I hold it and hold it until they take me out. I am about 3-5 years old making me the perfect catch for anyone who wants years with me, and skips the puppy phase. I'll be here in my kennel dreaming about my freedom ride and new family. Is that with you? Can you please help me out of here? (We do not know about dogs yet – but we are working on having a trainer come by with their dog to do a dog test since he is the only one in there!)

*DISCLAIMER*
The La Junta & Rocky Ford shelters are holding facilities for police stations and DO NOT operate like city shelters. They do NOT allow adoptions due to city laws. Only approved PACFA 501c3 rescues can pull dogs from these shelters. Our organization is set up to network the dogs in these shelters to ALREADY approved rescue groups and then coordinate the transportation. We are just volunteers who network the dogs in these 2 shelters to help get them more exposure. These shelters usually give each dog a Duramane 5 Max vaccine but that is all the vetting they receive. There are no vets on staff. We also coordinate transports each week (usually Saturday or Sunday) to the Denver area which is a 5-6 hour round trip drive – we just do the best we can but we are so grateful to have all of you guys to help save these pups! THANK YOU RESCUES

02/08/2024

HAPPY UPDATE: ALL SAFE!!❤️🐾

2 MORE PUPPIES NEED RESCUE BY 2/11!!!

There are 6 amazing puppies ready for transport THIS SUNDAY, 4 have been tagged 2 HAVE NOT! These animals need to be tagged by a PACFA-licensed rescue as the shelter they are in does NOT allow adoptions! If you are interested in fostering or tagging these kiddos as a rescue, please reach out to me or Hwy 50 ASAP!

AND PLEASE SHARE! Thank you!!! ❤️🐾

01/26/2024

Hello again friends!

There is an amazing new bill being introduced to help reduce the euthanasia rate in CO for dogs and cats in shelters, being headed up by No Kill Colorado . This bill would require shelters to post about any animal on a euthanasia list, in hopes of finding transport/rescue for these animals, which if you’ve been following our Hwy 50 posts, you know is very near and dear to our heart. This awesome group now needs our help getting the attention of our local government.

If you have 5 minutes to spare, please go to the link below and help write emails to our House Representatives and Agriculture Committee, showing your support for this new bill. The letters are already drafted in full, all you’ll have to do is copy, paste and email! Took me less time to do those emails than it did to make this post haha, it’s really that easy!

Thank you guys for your support ❤️🐾

MaxFund is supporting the Colorado Rescue Act, a bill being presented this week to the Agriculture Committee—Its first step in getting the bill passed.

WE NEED YOUR HELP showing support of this bill.

If passed, it will require shelters to notify other rescues and shelter organizations of the opportunity to save any healthy, treatable animal scheduled for euthanasia.

By posting that animal as available for transfer, it saves the lives of healthy and treatable pets in Colorado that may otherwise be destroyed.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TODAY by sending emails of support to the Agriculture Committee. Click this link to write a letter: https://www.nokillcolorado.org/letterwriting?mc_cid=2efebf8cdc&mc_eid=UNIQID

Go to No Kill Colorado more information about the Colorado Rescue Act.

01/25/2024

ALL SAFE!!

LOTS OF PUPPIES THIS WEEK!!! PLEASE SHARE!

6 puppies and 1 young pup need our help getting out of the shelter by THIS WEEKEND!! Please share this post and if you’re interested in fostering one of these amazing kiddos, reach out to me or Hwy 50 asap!

Thank you guys!❤️🐾

12/19/2023

CHRISTMAS MIRACLE SECURED FOR ALL 5 PUPS! ❤️🐾🎄

Hi friends! We REALLY need a Christmas miracle for these kiddos!!! They are such great pups and they just need a safe foster home to land in.

Please note, this shelter CANNOT do adoptions! Highway 50 Freedom Ride is set up to network these dogs to PACFA registered rescues who can then tag these pups. If they have a committed foster parent first, it really helps rescues have the ability to take on these pups as they are just so full!

Please reach out if you’re interested in fostering and giving one of these kiddos a safe place to land for the holidays❤️❤️❤️

12/13/2023

12/09/2023

HAPPY UPDATE: LAWSON IS SAFE!

LESS THAN 24 HOURS FOR SWEET LAWSON!

This guy LOVES people and other pups! Please SHARE and if you’re interested in fostering this sweet boy, please reach out to me and I will get you in contact with the proper people!

SHARE SHARE SHARE!

THANK YOU! 🐾❤️

SAFE! Tagged by Up Pup and Away Inc Rescue ❤🥳

💵 For everyone who offered to donate the rescue asked to send one of these two ways - thank you everyone!

Venmo: uppupandaway (6132 verification)
PayPal.me/uppupandaway

Meet Lawson (male shepherd mix). My name is Lawson and I am a total sweetheart. I love getting pets and kisses by the shelter staff because they make me feel safe. I enjoy all the doggies in the shelter! Can you please help me out of here?

11/24/2023

SAFE!! ❤️❤️❤️

Roo has LESS THAN 48 HOURS!

Please share and if you’re looking for a new pup or foster, please reach out to me or Hwy 50 directly! ❤️ She is great with people and other dogs, all around a perfect gal!

SAFE! Tagged by Karl's Canine Krew ❤️🥳

‼ URGENT ‼ Less than 48 hours left for this ADORABLE little girl. She is just perfect! Roo is super sweet, great with other dogs and ready to bust out of this shelter. We REALLY don't want to leave this girl behind on Sunday. Please let me know if your rescue can bring her in.

💵💌 She comes with $100 in donations to whichever rescue can help!

Meet Roo. My name is Roo because I look like a little baby kangaroo! I’m the sweetest little girl and a fan favorite at the shelter. I’m about 4 months old and full of love! When I arrived at the shelter I was very skinny, but I’ve been slowly putting on weight this week and feeling much healthier. As much as I love the shelter people, I’m ready to find a family who will love me forever. Can you please help me out of here? (Located in the La Junta Shelter)

11/22/2023

Roo still needs our help!!

Duke has been saved by an awesome rescue, Paws N Hooves Colorado !!

Please share! ❤️

SAFE! Tagged by Karl's Canine Krew ❤️🥳

‼ URGENT ‼ Less than 48 hours left for this ADORABLE little girl. She is just perfect! Roo is super sweet, great with other dogs and ready to bust out of this shelter. We REALLY don't want to leave this girl behind on Sunday. Please let me know if your rescue can bring her in.

💵💌 She comes with $100 in donations to whichever rescue can help!

Meet Roo. My name is Roo because I look like a little baby kangaroo! I’m the sweetest little girl and a fan favorite at the shelter. I’m about 4 months old and full of love! When I arrived at the shelter I was very skinny, but I’ve been slowly putting on weight this week and feeling much healthier. As much as I love the shelter people, I’m ready to find a family who will love me forever. Can you please help me out of here? (Located in the La Junta Shelter)

11/20/2023

Another 2 pups are ready to be saved and start their new lives! Please share and help them find a safe place to land!! 🐾❤️

11/19/2023

Another wonderful stay in the books with Opie, Jim and Marley! 🐾🐾🐾

This is one of my cuddliest and goofiest packs and I absolutely love it! We had a week filled with cuddles and goofing around 🥰

Reach out to book your housesitting stay today! We are currently booking for March 2024 and beyond! ❤️

11/16/2023

ALL SAFE!!! CHECK OUR LATEST POST FOR THIS WEEK’S PUPS🐾❤️

Hello Friends!

I have recently started volunteering with an amazing group called Highway 50 Freedom Ride. They provide transport of dogs from the La Junta and Rocky Ford shelters, down south of Pueblo, up to rescue in the Denver area.

These dogs have been found as strays/dumped, but the shelters that hold them have very different laws and regulations from a typical animal shelter. They are strictly a holding facility, meaning these dogs are on stray holds for owners to claim, and if they aren’t, they are euthanized. When a pup has a stray hold, it cannot be adopted, meaning they cannot just adopt these dogs out to the public, which is where Highway 50 Freedom Ride comes in!

They network the dogs who have not been claimed to other rescues in Colorado, and provide transport to their new foster homes! They have saved so many pups and it just never ends.

If you’re considering fostering or adopting a new kiddo, please check out the pups listed on this page! Although they cannot be directly adopted through these shelters, when we find someone willing to take them in, rescues are much more able to claim these pups as their fosters are just all so full! You would be their fosters, meaning it’s totally temporary, unless you fall in love 😉🥰

Please check them out, you won’t regret it!

11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving to All of our Amazing Clients! 🦃❤️🐾

We are so grateful for your business, support and trust. You are the reason we are here! 🫶🏻

11/23/2022

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching this week, remember which foods are and aren’t safe to treat your pups to!

Below is a table of all safe and unsafe human Thanksgiving food for our pups!

Happy Thanksgiving and stay safe! 🐾🦃

11/22/2022

For our kitties, it is extremely important we are monitoring their water intake each day and making sure they are getting hydrated sufficiently!

Why is this so important with cats specifically?

Cats naturally do not have a high thirst drive, meaning they aren’t compelled to drink water as much as they should. There are ways to aid in helping your kitty get all the hydration they need!

Water fountains are an EXCELLENT choice to help your kitty drink more water! They mimic flowing water which is instinctually more appealing to cats than just plain water. These cat fountains are built to last and simply need to be cleaned every week and change the filter every 2-3 weeks! My cat is obsessed with his water fountain linked below. It has been so helpful especially for an immunocompromised boy like mine!
Cat Fountain: https://amzn.to/3OgwMKS
This comes with a fountain, a mat, and 3 filters to get you started!
Extra Filters: https://amzn.to/3hVK181
Here are extra filters for when the first 3 are out!

If your cat doesn’t seem interested in a fountain-type water dispensers, there are other choices! For example, Pet Well-being has a formulation of drops that gives your kitty more hydration in each sip of water! https://amzn.to/3EfFmFn

Comment below if your cat likes using a fountain and which one works best for yours! 🐾🐈

Veken Pet Water Fountain - Keep Your Pet Healthy with Fresh, Filtered Water

11/19/2022

Some of our walk/drop in/dog park clients from this week!!! 🐾❤️

11/19/2022

Okay everyone, I had to make this post because Amazon has my FAVORITE car cover on sale for HALF OFF!! https://amzn.to/3OniPuY

This car cover covers the entire backseat and holds around the headrests to ensure there is no slippage. Additionally, there is a hook that goes around the back of the seats to provide extra security.

I don’t know how it does it, but this cover stays in place SO well for all of the pups I drive around on a daily basis! I have Rey and Coco’s mom to thank for the recommendation and letting me use theirs lol!

Get yours before their early Black Friday sale is over!!! You really don’t want to miss this one!

11/17/2022

We have one weekend left open for housesitting this December!! Book your stay today! 🎄🐾

11/15/2022

Another week, another dog park day with Rey and Coco!

Every week, I spend about 45 minutes with the girls at either Cherry Creek or Chatfield DOLA and we all have an absolute blast!!! Not only that, but their parents get to come home to nice and tired dogs after work that day!

Book your dog park trip today for your choice of ANY dog park, transportation for your pups to and from the park, lots of water breaks for your pups and of course, a super fun day for your kiddos!!!🐾

11/10/2022

Kongs and other stuffable toys have been around forever for pups, but what is their main function and why do they matter?

Filling a toy with peanut butter or something of the sort and allowing the pup to lick and get all of the filling out is challenge that is so enriching for a pup's brain! It makes them really think and put effort into getting the filling out of the toy, but is also another natural instinct of theirs that can help with stress relief!

Pups will often lick to self-soothe, like we would chew our nails. Giving them an outlet too channel all of this licking into is extremely beneficial for any anxieties your pup may be having at that time! This is why these stuffable dog toys are such valuable tools, especially when working through separation anxiety, or any new thing the pup may be nervous about!

Below, through the Amazon Affiliate program, I have linked my top choices for Kongs and other fillable dog toys! My favorite fillers are peanut butter, applesauce, canned food or baby food (just make sure all ingredients are safe for doggos!), but there are endless options for these! If your pup is getting through the filler too quickly/easily, try freezing the whole filled toy overnight to give them an extra challenge.

Best Overall: KONG - Extreme Dog Toy - Toughest Natural Rubber, Black
https://amzn.to/3Ehviwz
​This Kong Fillable is my personal favorite for these toys! This one specifically is their toughest rubber, and it is the only fillable my pup has not been able to rip up at all! It has been so easy to use and so durable with my crazy large pups!

Best for Freezing: Chew King Premium Treat Dog Toy, Extremely Durable Natural Rubber Fillable Toy Collection, Frozen Feeding https://amzn.to/3WQ0wlK
​This stuffable toy by Chew King is made specifically to be filled and frozen and it works PERFECTLY! I have frozen this toy countless times and every time it works so well and gives my pup a great challenge! This one is also extremely durable and my pup has barely been able to rip it up.

Top Crate Toy: Dog Training Toy/Dog Training Aid, Dog Crate Toy Training Tool for Secures to Crate Peanut Butter Toy, Puppy Crate Treat Holder, Dog Kennel Therapy Training Slow Feeder Toy for Reduces Anxiety https://amzn.to/3G0jRdY
​This toy has a little bit of a different appearance, but is the perfect option for crate training or any kind of crate use! This attaches directly to the crate and allows the dog to lick all of the filling off, providing the same stress relief the other toys do!

Best Value: PetSafe Frosty Cone Dog Toys – Fill and Freeze Treat Holding Chew Toy – BPA Free Rubber – French Vanilla Scented – Interactive Pet Puzzle for Boredom or Separation Anxiety ​https://amzn.to/3NSKl2X AND Nylabone Strong Rubber Treat Dispensing and Teeth Cleaning Dog Toys https://amzn.to/3fUie7e
Both of these toys have lasted my pup a very long time; she has chewed on both of them some and ripped them up a little, but these are, in my opinion, some of the best valued options for fillable toys!

All of these are great options for fillable toys for pups, but any toys that can be filled with the fillings listed above, are perfect for your pup! If you have an anxious or high energy dog, try a fillable toy today!🐾🐾

11/09/2022

I recently began volunteering with Demi’s Animal Rescue here in Denver as a cat care helper. The opportunities for involvement at this rescue have been endless already and such a community-building experience!

Monday night, me and a couple other women with the rescue went out to do some TNR! What is TNR exactly? You may have heard it by the name SNR, too, but they both mean to trap feral cats, take them to vets to get spayed/neutered, vaccinated and rehabilitated if needed. TNR stands for Trap ’n Return and SNR stands for Snip ‘n Return.

So far we have caught 4 cats- 2 adults and 2 kittens, but we have reports of 13-20 feral cats roaming in the area. The adults will go through the vet process and then returned to the same area they were found in- they’re built to live outside and that’s where they belong! Kittens on the other hand can still be rehabilitated and socialized enough to become house cats!

For kitten socialization we will be having a movie night with the kittens wrapping them in blankets and giving them more, controlled exposure to us humans! I will most definitely be posting pictures as we socialize these kittens more and when they are available for adoption! 🥰🐾

11/08/2022

I don’t know about you guys, but I have one pup with extremely thick nails that regular nail trimmers were just not cutting well!

After speaking to the other vet techs I used to work with and doing enough of these nail trimmings myself, I have developed my top choices through Amazon Affiliate’s program for nail clippers for pets of all sizes! 🐾❤️

First up we have Pet Republique’s Small Dog and Cat Nail Trimmers.
These are an awesome choice for any cats and, in my opinion, dogs under 10 lbs! These cut so smoothly and are such a swift process for even the scardiest of cats! https://amzn.to/3NNKcxZ

Next, we have Millers Forge Nail Clippers Small/Medium.
These are the perfect nail trimmers for any small dog! They cut smoothly and are extremely durable, likely lasting you the whole lifetime of your pet! https://amzn.to/3tb8nwO

Next, we have the Millers Forge Nail Clippers Large.
Even though these are labeled as large dog nail trimmers, I believe they do much better for medium sized pups (under 50 lbs). They cut so smoothly for the size kiddos, but start to get a little harder after this size point. These will also likely last you the whole lifetime of your pet (I’ve had mine for 16 years now!!). https://amzn.to/3tcx8bI

For those large pups between 50 and 100 lbs, I highly recommend Pet Republique’s XL Nail Clippers!
These are such a smooth cut for trimming even my Tandy’s nails (who I swear are like tree trunks lol)! They make the process so painless and quick and also have a quick guard to ensure you don’t cut too far down your pup’s nail. https://amzn.to/3hsKgHh

For dogs over 100 lbs, I highly recommend getting this done by a professional groomer or a vets office. These can be harder to do at home because of how thick they really are, and I always trust a groomer or vet tech more than myself even to cut them as painlessly as possible!

I hope this is a helpful guide for all of my pet parents who may be struggling with trimming their pets nails! These are truly such trusted and great choices that I would recommend to anyone! 🐾🐾

Cat Nail Clippers by Pet Republique – Professional Stainless-Steel Claw Clipper Trimmer for Cats, Kittens, Hamster, Rabbits, Birds, & Small Breed Animals

11/06/2022

Have you been hearing about Snuffle Mats and Balls lately?? They’ve been one of the latest trends in dog parenting, but what exactly are they and which ones should you get?

Below, is an explanation of what snuffle mats are and why they are so important for pups, as well as some links to some of my favorite snuffle mats from Amazon as part of their affiliate program!

Snuffle Mats:

https://amzn.to/3E3mvyb

https://amzn.to/3Uw5G4i

https://amzn.to/3Ugv6Uc

Snuffle Balls:

https://amzn.to/3Wy01N9

https://amzn.to/3DCxmhb

https://amzn.to/3UxFBlH

Treat your pup to a snuffle ball or mat today! 🐾

11/02/2022

November 1st was National Cook for Your Pets Day!

Home cooking is a great way to feed your pets a more natural diet as well as one that is more customized to their needs! Of course, consult with your veterinarians before changing your pets’ food at all, but this is typically a great option for pets with allergies, digestion/GI issues, or just overall health issues as it allows the owner to control exactly what the pet is getting. 🐾

To find some awesome new recipes for your pet, check out the links below!

Dogs: https://www.caninejournal.com/homemade-dog-food-recipes/

Cats: https://allaboutcats.com/homemade-cat-food-recipes

11/01/2022

We have a few dates remaining for 2022!!!

Below are each month’s available dates, each circled. The rest of the days we are available for drop ins, walks, dog park trips and hikes!

Reach out to get your stay booked today! 🐾🥰

11/01/2022

Happy Howl-loween from Shipley’s! 🍁🎃🥰🐾

We hope it’s a fun night for you, but also your pets!
Check out this article below to make sure your pets have the most positive experience they can on Halloween night:
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/halloween-safety-tips

10/20/2022

Today is Get to Know Your Customers Day!!!

Shipley’s is so beyond thankful for each and everyone of our human and animal clients! You all make it possible for us to do this everyday and do what makes us happiest.

THANK YOU!❤️

Comment down below telling us a little more about yourself and your pets! 🐾🥰

10/20/2022

This month is National Pet Wellness Month!

The goal of this month is to promote pet wellness, health and safety at all times for pets worldwide. It is an important time to volunteer and support low-cost vet clinics in order to help fund the needs of people of all income levels.

We are fortunate enough as humans to get discounts on primary care through insurance, but pet insurance is not a guarantee or even possibility for some. This is why these low-cost and subsidized vet clinics of all kinds are so important and vital to overall pet health; it makes pet wellness and maintenance a possibility for everyone, just like it should be.

To support Pet Wellness Month, you can volunteer at or donate to your local vet clinics, especially low-income ones. Additionally, make sure your own pets have had their annual wellness checks and are up to date on at least their rabies vaccine as this is required by law! 🐾

10/19/2022

October 16-22 is also National Business Women’s Week!

As a female/lgbtqia+ small business owner, this week is extremely important and special to me!

This week celebrates the advancements that women have made within the business industry, but also, recognizes the ways that women are still minimized in the industry.

I am so lucky to have built a business in this field, one that is female-dominated unlike most other parts of business, but I still face discrimination due to my size or perceived strength. That is what this week is all about, recognizing these issues that are still prevalent and working to combat them, but also celebrating the accomplishments we have made.

Happy National Business Women’s Week to all of the other females and enby’s in business! 🌈🐾

10/18/2022

UPDATE AS OF 10/18 PM, We are now booked for Thanksgiving Housesitting as well! 🥰

REMINDER! Get your holiday bookings in asap!!

We currently are open for housesitting, drop ins, walks, hikes and dog park trips for Thanksgiving! This won’t last long so get your bookings in now! 🐾🍁🎃

We are booked for Christmas housesitting, but are available for drop in care and walks for Christmas Eve and Day! 🎄🎅🐾

Get those holiday bookings in today!! We can’t wait to help care for your pets! 🥰