Pueblo animal shelter boasts increase in save rate under new management

After 16 years with the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR), PAWS For Life took over Pueblo’s animal shelter at the start of 2019. Now the question is: are the save rates any higher under new management?

So far, looking at just January, the answer appears to be yes.

In a presentation to Pueblo City Council last week, the January save rate number is up to 95 percent from 88 percent last December under the old vendor. That’s higher than the 90 percent save rate limit set by city council last year when they passed the Pueblo Animal Protection Act or PAPA.

However, when HSPPR took over the shelter 16 years ago, the rate was at 48 percent.

Linda Mitchell is the director of the newly named Pueblo community animal shelter, and despite taking on more animals in her new role, she says she is having fun.

As for the increase in the save rate, Mitchell credits her veterinarians and transferring animals to nearby shelters.

“We’ve had such a phenomenal group of no-kill shelters reach out to us and work with us,” said Mitchell. “We can’t say enough about the animal sheltering community.”

Pueblo Community Animal Shelter says it has been consistently transferring animals to other local shelters like HOBO Rescue, PAWS for Life, and the Fremont County Animal Shelter.

PAWS for Life, a private no-kil’ shelter in Pueblo for more than 50 years, boasts a 98 percent save rate.

“Since we are open admission, we take everything that comes in,” Mitchell said when asked why the Pueblo Community Animal Shelter’s save rate isn’t closer to 98 percent. “Because we have vets on staff here, we get the elderly animals that are being surrendered by owners that can no longer care for them due to finances or medical needs.”

Mitchell’s ultimate goal is bringing the public and animal shelter in Pueblo back together.

“When we took this position it was to improve Pueblo. Improve the public persona to stop the bickering that has been going on in the shelter world and the animal world in this little town. Our goal is to bring people and the animals back together again,” said Mitchell.

Since taking over two months ago, Mitchell says they have retained a large number of employees from the previous vendor, which has helped during the transition phase.

One of the largest concerns, especially by Pueblo County Commissioners, was the animal control aspect of taking over the role, something PAWS for Life had limited experience in. Mitchell says animal control hasn’t been a problem so far. Especially with cooperation from the Pueblo Fire and Police Departments.