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 killing of millions of loving, adoptable dogs and cats every year. There is ongoing discussion about how many kittens one cat and her offspring can produce over a seven-year period.  Some say approximately 420,000 kittens while others argue that, in reality, that number is closer to 200,000.  A female dog and her offspring can produce well over 100,000 dogs.  Regardless of what the “real” numbers are, we can all agree that is far too many dogs and cats that would be brought into a country where we kill over three million homeless pets per year.  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. 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. Since that time, our campaign has resulted in the neutering of approximately 5,000 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. In 2007, we took our campaign to other counties throughout Colorado’s Western Slope. We have partnered with vets in Aspen, Carbondale, Glenwood Springs, Newcastle and as far away as Rifle, Meeker, Craig, Grand Junction and Rangely 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 everyone that applies.

We are grateful to you, our supporters, for enabling us to aggressively fight pet overpopulation and end the killing of adoptable pets. “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.

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.