Pueblo Animal Protection Act still has to be cleared by county

Before Monday night , eight out of 10 of the cats and dogs at Pueblo Animal Services had the opportunity for a new life.

But now, nine of 10 animals in any shelter in Pueblo city limits will live thanks to the Animal Protection Act.

“We’re very proud of the progressive changes that are being made to Pueblo because of this ordinance passing,” said L isa Buccambuso, one of the advocates who filled the city council chambers for the vote. “In working together, and the fact that there are so many of us, I believe that the animals of Pueblo are sitting in a really good spot right now,” Buccambuso said. But the president of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, Jan McHugh-Smith, said more goes into their work than a number. “We do animal law enforcement. You know, we handle 6,000 animals. When you’re talking about organizations that have high live release rate, many of them are handling very small numbers of animals,” McHugh-Smith said. PAWS For Life has a 98 percent live release rate. Director Linda Mitchell said even though her shelter is small, this new ordinance will give some animals a chance they didn’t have before. “We don’t take in just the ones that we think are going to place that are cute. We have pitbulls. We have everything,” Mitchell said.

Although the ordinance was already passed by the city council, it still has to be considered by the county commissioners for its part of the contract with Pueblo Animal Services. Buccambuso hopes, for the sake of the animals, it’s a quick decision. But she said she’s ready for another fight if necessary.