Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region

12/06/2025

I said, “Brrrrrr, it’s cold out here!”
There must be some snowflakes in the atmosphere!
(Yes, we spent our snow day watching Bring It On. Don’t judge us.)

Some folks thought Colorado might skip Winter this year. But no. Colorado Winter shows up whenever it feels like it, unannounced, dramatic, and usually blasting you in the face with cold air the second you let your guard down. Classic.

Since Winter has officially barged in, here are your Cold Weather Pet Tips:

🏠 Outside Dogs Need Cozy Shelters
If your dog spends time outside, make sure they have a warm, waterproof shelter raised a few inches off the ground. It keeps them cozy and safe from the cold ground.

🧼 Wipe Off Snow and Salt
After being outside, wipe your dog’s legs and belly! Ice, snow, and especially salt can hurt paws. A quick cleanup keeps them comfy and healthy.

❄️ Know Their Cold Limits
Not all dogs are built for winter. Some, like Huskies, LOVE the snow (lucky them!). Others may need extra TLC. Shivering, tired, or unusual behavior? Time to head inside.

⚠️ Watch for Hypothermia
Shivering, extreme tiredness, dilated pupils, or pale gums are warning signs. Call your vet if you notice any of these right away.

🐕 Keep Them Safe on Walks
Snow can mask scents, making it easier for pups to get lost. Keep them on a leash, and make sure ID tags and microchip info are up to date.

🧥 Warm Clothes for Short-Haired Dogs
Short-haired dogs can benefit from a cozy sweater or coat—especially if it’s damp outside. Keep clothing dry, because wet clothes actually make them colder.

☠️ Antifreeze is Dangerous
Pets love to explore, but antifreeze is toxic to cats, dogs, and wildlife. Clean up spills immediately and store it safely out of reach.

🚗 Knock on Your Hood
Before starting your car in the morning, bang on the hood to make sure no cats or wildlife have curled up in your engine for warmth overnight.

🚨 If You See a Pet That Might Be Unsafe in the Cold
Contact Animal Law Enforcement and share:
-Address
-How long the pet has been outside
-Whether shelter is available
-How the pet is acting

Winter is a busy time for Animal Law Enforcement, so sharing these details helps them respond faster.

But remember: some cold-climate dogs (Huskies, we’re looking at you) love winter and will happily argue with their humans about coming inside. If you can, check in with the owner before calling Animal Law Enforcement. You might find they’ve been trying to coax their snow-loving troublemaker indoors for a while. Some dogs are just convinced they're polar bears!

Here’s to a safe, snowy, wonderfully cozy Colorado winter with our pets! ❄️🐾

12/05/2025

ADOPTED 12/5

I’m just a girl. A perfectly normal, emotionally mature, slightly dramatic-in-a-charming-way girl. My name is Seriph, and for reasons I cannot fathom, some people seem to think I’m “hard to please.” Which is honestly hilarious, because if you think I’m high-maintenance, you should meet literally any houseplant. I am not hard to please; I simply have standards. And preferences. And the occasional boundary. Which, last I checked, is not a crime.

Let’s start with the basics: girls are not complicated. You can literally keep them happy with iced coffee, a well-timed meme, and a compliment about their hair, even when it’s in a messy bun that could be classified as a natural disaster. Me? I’m even easier. Give me my favorite treats and a head scratch, and I will melt directly into the floor like a popsicle on a sidewalk. That is peak romance. Shakespeare could never.

But sure, if you’re going to love me, really love me, you should know I enjoy attention. Obviously. I am adorable, and I deserve to be admired like a limited-edition, discontinued Anthropologie throw pillow. But I’m also a modern woman with boundaries, and when I need space, I need space. Not in a dramatic storming-out, slamming-the-door, “you never listen to me!” way. More like, “I love you, but I’m going to go vibe alone in this sunbeam for an hour so I don’t spiral.” Respect that, and we’ll be golden.

Now, listen: loyalty matters, but as Taylor Swift once said, “They don’t make loyalty like they used to.” In my past life, other cats were brought into my home as if I were running some kind of open-concept cat coworking space. Absolutely not. I am not “one of several.” I am the whole experience. I need a home where I am the star of the show, the top-billing name on the marquee, the Beyoncé of the living room. I’m not saying other cats are bad, I’m just saying they can exist elsewhere.

I will also admit, because I am brave and self-aware, that I have moments of insecurity. Girlhood is tough! Some days I feel like the main character in a romantic comedy; other days I feel like the side character who gets two lines and a weird haircut. I need someone who can help me grow my confidence, not by drowning me in compliments or treating me like a fragile Victorian heroine, but by consistently showing up, being kind, and reminding me that I am, in fact, That Girl. You know, in an emotionally supportive, stable kind of way. Not in a “we met 12 minutes ago and I’ve already written vows” way.

Which brings us to the final, crucial point: I do not want to be love-bombed. Please. Do not show up acting like we’re destined soulmates in a past life, a present life, and three future timelines. I want the slow burn. The season-two romance. The “we accidentally get closer because we both like tuna” storyline. Let’s build something real, something soft and steady.

So truly, nothing I want is unreasonable. If any of this made you think, “Gosh, she’s a lot”… babe, I wish you well, but I am so out of your league we’re not even playing the same sport. But if you read all this and thought, “Wait… she sounds perfect,” then please, run, don’t walk, to the shelter and meet me.

Let’s show the world how beautiful life can be when you treat a girl right!

https://www.hsppr.org/pet/a1763262/

12/04/2025

A few weeks ago, a kind woman was starting her morning when she looked outside and froze. Right there in her front yard was a momma dog and two tiny puppies, wide-eyed, shivering, and clearly in need of a hero. And lucky for them, she was exactly that. With gentle coaxing, she guided the little family into her backyard, shut the gate, and immediately called our animal law enforcement team.

When our officer arrived, he knew this trio needed help fast. Momma’s back leg had a nasty wound, and the pups looked a little under the weather. He didn’t waste a second; he bundled everyone up, cranked up the warm air in his truck, and rushed them back to the shelter.

The pups headed straight to our vet clinic, where we confirmed they had upper respiratory infections. Basically, the puppy version of when you have a cold and just want to eat soup and take 12 naps. Thankfully, with medicine and some cozy care, they perked up quickly.

Momma dog’s injury was more serious. Her leg wound was infected and painful, but we got her cleaned up, treated, and on antibiotics. Slowly but surely, her spark came back. And once she realized she didn’t have to be strong for her babies anymore, she finally let herself rest.

Within a couple of weeks, this little family was looking better, brighter, and ready for their next adventure.

The puppies, of course, were adopted so fast they practically left cartoon dust clouds behind. But our beautiful momma dog needed a bit more time. She was scared, unsure, and not fully convinced that people could be trusted.

And then, Tuesday happened.

A family walked through our doors, spotted her, and saw everything she was trying so hard to hide: her gentleness, her bravery, and her huge potential to love. They didn’t flinch at her fears. They reached out their hands to her, and she walked right up to them, finally ready to leave her past behind. And just like that, our girl had a new home and a new name: Sasha.

Sasha and her puppies are now safe, loved, and Home for the Holidays.

And this joyful triple-happy-ending wouldn’t have been possible without Cindy and Mike from Status Symbol Auto Body, who are donating $25 for every pet adopted or reunited this December. You’re fueling holiday happy tails all month long, and we are so excited to share them!

Three adoptions down, and a whole holiday season of heartwarming stories is just getting started.

12/03/2025

Hi friend! It’s me, Dasher! 🐾

I wanted to write you a little note all by myself (well, the humans might have helped a little; I haven’t quite mastered the typing thing yet)to tell you something very big: Thank you!

Because of your kindness, and the big $50,000 match from Fetch Pet Insurance and a longtime friend of the shelter, you gave double the love, double the care, and double the second chances to pets who really, really needed them.

Together, we raised over $83,000 on Giving Tuesday!

When I came to HSPPR at just seven weeks old, my little face was puffy and sore from something called puppy strangles. I didn’t understand what was happening… I just knew everything hurt. But because of wonderful people like you, HSPPR helped me right away. They gave me medicine, gentle pets, warm blankets, and a cozy foster home where I could rest and feel safe again.

Now, the tender spots around my eyes and mouth are healing, and I get lots of check-ups to make sure I’m getting better. My foster family says I’m starting to show my personality a little more every day. And soon, they hope I’ll be ready to find a home of my very own.

All of that happened because of you. Your kindness helped me be brave. Your love helped me feel better. Your generosity helped me find hope.

Because of you:
• Sick and injured pets will get the medical care they need
• Tiny kittens and puppies, seniors, and special-needs animals will stay safe
• Families will get to welcome new furry, feathered, or scaly friends
• Lost pets will come home again
• And animals all over the Pikes Peak Region will feel loved

From every little heart you helped, thank you for making Giving Tuesday so special.

Your kindness doesn’t just change lives…it helped save mine.

With a soft nose boop,
Dasher 🐾

12/03/2025

It’s time for your weekly dose of Hand-Picked Cats!

These kitties are truly something special, so we’ve gone full fairy godmother mode and waived their adoption fees to help them find their new homes! Meet the fabulous felines of the week and help us shout their names from the rooftops (or, more realistically, your group chats, DMs, and anywhere cat people gather). Swing by our Colorado Springs shelter to meet them in person, or fall in love from afar at hsppr.org/pets.

Let’s get these cuties home, they’ve got naps to take, snacks to demand, and lives to change.
(*$20 license fee may still apply.)

12/02/2025

Hi there, friend!

My name is Dasher, yes, like the reindeer! Only… much smaller. And fluffier. And not very good at flying. (I tried, but my ears are not ready for take-off quite yet.)

Before I came to HSPPR, life was confusing, painful, and a little scary. My face felt puffed up, tight, and prickly, like invisible strings were playing a mean game of tug-of-war with my skin. Little sores and bumps popped up and made me flinch. I tried to be brave, but everything hurt, and I didn’t know why.

I don’t remember how I got to HSPPR, but I remember when the doors opened, and a soft voice said, “Oh sweetheart… we’ve got you.”

They wrapped me in a warm blanket, examined my face so gently, and looked into my eyes like they could see right into my teeny, sore little soul. They told me I was safe. I didn’t know what “safe” really meant yet, but my heart felt warm, like hopping into a puddle of sunshine.

The doctors gave my pain a name: Puppy Strangles. Yikes, right? Sounds like way too big a problem for a tiny pup like me. Apparently, my body got confused and started attacking itself instead of helping me grow. (I wish my body had asked for directions first.)

The medicine helped. Slowly at first, then more and more. Little by little, the burning eased, the aching softened, and comfort sneaked in.

I’m not like other puppies my age yet. I don’t tumble or chase or bark at sunbeams all day. Most of my time is spent on naps, cuddles, and medicines in my foster home. But every day, I get a little stronger. And I feel it, more wiggle, more wag, more hope.

They told me that today is a very special day. It’s Giving Tuesday, a day when people like you help little animals like me get soft beds, full bellies, medicine, and love. And this year every gift is doubled! Twice the comfort, twice the meals, twice the medicine, twice the chance for animals like me to grow up happy, wiggly, and healthy.

I don’t really understand numbers (I can count treats, but that’s about it). But I do understand love. And I know that love saved me.

So… if it’s alright for a tiny puppy with big dreams and floppy ears to ask… would you help me and all my friends waiting for love at the shelter?

Today, your Giving Tuesday gift will be matched up to $50,000 by the incredible folks at Fetch Pet Insurance and another generous friend of the shelter. With your help, scared little hearts like mine can feel safe, loved, and full of hope.

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/2025givingtuesdaysocial/

With a tiny wag and a heart full of gratitude,
Dasher 🐾

12/02/2025

When tiny Dasher arrived at HSPPR, he was fighting for his life.

At just seven weeks old, this sweet pup was already enduring more pain than any animal should ever know. He was suffering from a condition called Puppy Strangles, an autoimmune disease that causes severe swelling, open sores, deep skin inflammation, and fever. His little face was tender and swollen, and his small body was struggling to keep up with the battle happening inside him.

Without help, Dasher’s story could have ended in heartbreak. Puppy Strangles can leave puppies vulnerable to dangerous infections and unbearable pain. Some become too weak to eat or drink. Some simply lose the will to keep going.

But Dasher wasn’t alone, because people like you stepped in when he needed it most.

Thanks to donors who make life-saving care possible, our veterinary team was able to quickly diagnose him and begin urgent treatment. He’s now on steroids to calm his immune system, he’s receiving around-the-clock care, and most importantly… he’s beginning to heal.

While other puppies his age are learning to play, Dasher is still at the beginning of a long recovery. He’ll need medication, careful monitoring, and weeks of gentle healing before he can find a home and live the life he deserves.

But today, you can help make that happen.

This Giving Tuesday, your kindness goes twice as far. Every single gift made before midnight is matched dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 by Fetch Pet Insurance and another generous friend of the shelter. That means your support can provide double the urgent medical care, double the comfort, double the healing for pets who need it most.

Please, make your Giving Tuesday gift today. Give Dasher, and every animal like him, the chance to heal, to grow, and to know what it feels like to be truly loved.

Today, your compassion can change everything.

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/2025givingtuesdaysocial/

12/01/2025

Something people repeatedly, bewilderingly fail to comprehend is that it is tremendously taxing to be a genius, an athlete, and a breathtakingly flawless example of canine magnificence. Truly, the weight of brilliance rests heavily on my elegant shoulders.

My name is October, though you may call me Toby. I’ve been on this earthly sphere for nearly six years, and each morning I awaken with the same crisp, crystalline realization: I am exceptional. Not metaphorically exceptional. Factually exceptional. Scientifically exceptional, even. I imagine researchers will one day study me, though I pity them; my brilliance is notoriously hard to capture in print.

Please don’t mistake this for arrogance. I am, if anything, underplaying it. I deal only in evidence.

For instance:
-The treat hidden behind the second shelf in the storage room? Found in 4.2 seconds.
-The puzzle toy meant to “keep dogs occupied for hours”? I completed it so fast the humans checked to see if it came pre-solved.
-Doggy parkour? I am practically the canine Evel Knievel, minus the reckless self-endangerment.
-Nosework? I can detect birch oil from a distance that would make other dogs question their very purpose on this earth.

I am, and I cannot stress this enough, phenomenal.

But of course, that is where the problem lies, doesn’t it? Being extraordinary means, by definition, that one is not ordinary. And ordinary is what most humans find comfortable. Predictable. Soft around the edges. A warm cup of tea, not a thrilling mystery. Alas, I am none of those things. I am the thrilling mystery. The adventure. The thing that changes your life forever.

Some say I’m “a bit difficult.” How quaint. In reality, I simply have parameters. For example, I refuse to share my home with other pets. Imagine being forced to cohabitate with some drooling halfwit whose greatest achievement is “sitting nicely” or “having a cute wiggle.” No. Absolutely not. I must be the sole pet in the home, for the same reason one does not store a priceless violin next to a kazoo.

And then there are the small humans. Again, it is not personal. It is simply that I cannot share space and attention with a tiny creature praised for merely walking. I have been walking for years, beautifully, I might add, and no one applauds me. I prefer my humans fully formed, educated, and capable of appreciating my intellect and energy. This typically occurs around age sixteen. I would much prefer a home with no one younger than that.

Now, perhaps you fear I’m all brain and no heart. Cold. Aloof. The canine equivalent of a brooding detective in a coat that belongs in a museum. But no, absolutely not. I am warm! I am affectionate! I am delightful company! I love adventure, exploration, cuddles, and praise...especially the praise. I have oceans of love to give to the right human who appreciates my particular blend of genius and flair.

Which leads me to the matter at hand: I am searching for someone extraordinary. Someone clever, patient, and able to appreciate a mind like mine. Someone worthy of a dog who could probably solve most mysteries in your home before you’ve finished your morning coffee.

So I implore you: share my story. Extraordinary people are rare, yes. But if we look together, perhaps mine will finally appear, and we can be extraordinary together.

https://www.hsppr.org/pet/a1762813/

11/29/2025

Beretta weighs 70 lbs. She is not a lap dog. Science says no. Physics says no. But does she care? Also no.

Here at the shelter, we believe in the ancient wisdom of: “If I fits, I sits.” and its more extreme cousin: “If I don’t fits… I still might sits.”

Today, we want to see where your pets like to park themselves, whether it’s your lap, a cardboard box, the top of the fridge, or a chair that’s clearly designed for a toddler. Show us the spots that look absurdly tiny, totally uncomfortable, and yet somehow… perfect. Bonus points for pets who defy physics to squeeze in! 🐾

11/28/2025

ADOPTED 11/29

While many of us gathered around warm tables yesterday, passing plates piled high with blessings, someone else was savoring his Thanksgiving meal at the shelter.

His name is Woolly Mammoth.

Not long ago, just the beginning of November, Woolly walked through our doors as a dog-shaped whisper, a ghost of who he should have been. He moved carefully, as though his paws had to ask permission from his bones that jutted painfully beneath his skin. Every rib stood out, each one sharp enough to break your heart if you looked too long. Wounds traced his face and paws like old, tired stories that no one had bothered to read. And when a Good Samaritan found him, wandering alone with no clear destination, he was covered in flies.

We don’t know where Woolly Mammoth came from, or for how long he had been trying to hold himself together with nothing but scraps of hope. But when he arrived, it was painfully clear that both his fragile body and his gentle, trembling heart had endured more than any animal should.

The moment Woolly crossed the threshold, our veterinary team moved like a warm, determined breeze, soft where he was scared, confident where he needed direction. He was evaluated and placed immediately on a careful refeeding plan. Woolly scored a two on the Body Composition Scale, just one step above the most extreme level of emaciation. He had a long journey ahead of him.

His wounds were cleaned; gentle hands tended to the places the world had hurt him. He was given structured meals, the kind that come at the same time every day, the kind that whisper, “You are safe. You don’t have to wonder anymore.”

And something extraordinary happened. With each scheduled meal, each soft word from the staff, each careful bandage change, Woolly began to lift his head.

He began, just barely, to hope.

We knew Woolly would need to stay with us for a while to be able to heal, and healing doesn’t only happen in bodies; it also happens in hearts that have been hungry for love. So our behavior team crafted a personalized enrichment plan just for him. Puzzle toys to sharpen his mind, gentle play sessions to rebuild trust, quiet company to refill the lonely places inside him.

Little by little, his tail began to sway, small movements at first, like delicate shoots pushing through winter soil, unsure if the sun was really coming. But healing isn’t smooth. It isn’t simple. And soon, Woolly’s challenges began to reveal themselves.

Other dogs frighten him. He gets nervous and needs slow introductions and patient guidance. Food still fills him with fear. Not fear of eating, but fear of losing it. Fear that someone will take what was once scarce. In a home with another pet, he’ll need space to eat separately so he can feel secure. And treats? Well… he can be a bit grabby, so it’s best to toss his treats instead of handing them to him.

But oh, how he tries. How he wants to be loved. How desperately he leans into every pet, how brightly he looks up at people he barely knows, as if hoping that this time love will stay.

Since arriving, Woolly has gained six healthy pounds. Six pounds of strength. Six pounds of hope. Six pounds of proof that second chances can take root even in the deepest wounds.

Our veterinary team believes what we all feel in our hearts: Woolly Mammoth needs a home now. A real one. A soft, steady place where meals come on time, where voices are gentle, where he can finally fall asleep in peace.

He has already survived the unthinkable. Now he deserves what for him is the unimaginable: a life where he is loved simply for being Woolly, imperfect and earnest and trying so very hard.

Every time someone walks by his kennel, he runs to the door. Not out of desperation, but out of belief. Belief that the next person might be his person. The one who won’t disappear. The one who won’t give up.

Could that person be you? Or could you be the one who shares his story so it can reach the person who needs to hear it most?

Woolly Mammoth still has a long road ahead. But look how far he’s already come. Help him find the home and the heart he’s been searching for.

https://www.hsppr.org/pet/a1760947/

11/27/2025

Thanks to your incredible generosity, the homeless pets in our shelters got to enjoy a Thanksgiving feast they won’t forget! 🦃💛

For many of our furry friends, this was their very first Thanksgiving, and because of you, they celebrated with a delicious meal and a big helping of love from our amazing staff and volunteers.

Your support makes moments like this possible and fills their shelter days with a little extra holiday magic. Thank you for being part of this heartwarming tradition!

From all your furry (and not-so-furry) friends at HSPPR, Happy Thanksgiving! 🐾

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHGJNjvBFnE

P.S. Our Colorado Springs and Pueblo shelters are closed today so our staff can enjoy their own quality time with loved ones!

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