Our Mission

Our new shelter opened in March, 2006. With this milestone achieved, the Aspen/Pitkin Animal Shelter Capital Campaign (ASCC) changed its name to Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter (FAAS) to reflect its transition from a capital campaign organization to one that promotes and provides for the welfare, care and health of animals. Through its leadership it will support the efforts of like-minded, community-based programs; educate the community on the care of animals; and sustain the excellence of the Cheryl and Sam Wyly Aspen/Pitkin County Animal Shelter.

Our tag line is It's All About The Animals! If you would like to donate to our programs, our mailing address is: Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 985, Aspen, Colorado 81612. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our EIN is 84-1564816. Your gift is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

 

Pet Overpopulation and Our Spay/Neuter Campaign

After raising the funds necessary to build the new Aspen/Pitkin County Animal Shelter, Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter (FAAS) turned its attention to combating pet overpopulation and the consequences thereof.  In the United States, pet overpopulation results in the unnecessary euthanasia of millions of loving, adoptable dogs and cats every year.  It is astounding to realize that one cat and her offspring can produce approximately 420,000 kittens in seven years. In that same period, a female dog and her offspring can produce well over 100,000 dogs. The importance of neutering our pets cannot be underestimated. It is vitally important in curbing pet overpopulation, not only in our valley but in our country. The Aspen Animal Shelter is a true no-kill facility, so FAAS hopes to target surrounding areas and help reduce the euthanasia rates of Colorado’s Western Slope shelters.

There are numerous misconceptions about spaying and neutering pets. The procedure actually helps pets live longer, healthier lives. It can greatly reduce health problems such as testicular cancer and prostate disease in male pets and practically eliminates the possibility of ovarian and breast cancer in female pets. Neutered cats are less likely to spray or stray and it reduces aggressiveness and the urge to roam in dogs.

Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter kicked-off its aggressive spay/neuter campaign in October 2007. By the end of 2008 it is projected that our program will have resulted in the neutering of approximately 1,000 dogs and cats. Pitkin County is fortunate to have a nearly zero percent euthanasia rate and has not euthanized an adoptable dog or cat in the last fifteen years.  We are now taking our campaign to other counties. We have partnered with vets in Aspen, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Newcastle and as far away as Rifle, Meeker and Craig to provide these free services. While our program targets low income families that could not otherwise afford to neuter their pets, the program is available to virtually everyone that applies.

We are grateful to you, our supporters, for enabling us to aggressively fight pet over population and end pet euthanasia.  “We have many generous donors who share the same goal as Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter – and that is to curb pet overpopulation so that all adoptable, homeless pets are provided responsible, loving homes, and make euthanasia of adoptable pets a non-issue” said Seth Sachson, director of the Aspen/Pitkin County Animal Shelter and president of Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter. In addition to the free spay/neuter campaign, FAAS has an ongoing low-cost spay and neuter program. Through our PAWS Program applicants can neuter their pet for a $25 fee at all participating vet. To donate to our program and help us curb pet overpopulation, checks can be made payable to Friends of the Aspen Animal Shelter and mailed to PO Box 985, Aspen, CO  81612.

Participating vets:

Aspen:

Aspen Animal Hospital 970-925-2611

Carbondale:

Carbondale Animal Hospital 970-963-2826 or Red Hill Animal Hospital 970-704-0403

Craig: Craig Veterinary Hospital 970-824-9629

Meeker: The Vet Clinic 970-878-5647

New Castle: New Castle Vet Clinic 970-984-2259

Rifle: The Valley Veterinary Clinic 970-625-5035