Second Chance: Tax Season, Good News – for Pets

14 Feb Second Chance: Tax Season, Good News – for Pets

Wahoo it’s tax season!!! 

Sorry, I know for furless beings tax season is akin to a snow-less winter, a weekend of domestic chores, or even to sticking pins under your fingernails. But for us furry folk, it means saving lives thanks to the Colorado Pet Overpopulation Fund (CPOF)!

And better yet, the groovy people at CPOF now offer another way for you to our save lives…

Spirit

Let’s start with understanding more about CPOF. 

This fund was initially established by the Colorado State Legislature to curb pet overpopulation and reduce the euthanasia of surplus unwanted pets. The focus and success of this program makes it, in my opinion, the smartest and most positive act of a legislating body.

Since its inception in 2001, CPOF has generated $2.7 million and subsidized more than 60,000 spay and neuter surgeries for dogs and cats in underserved areas of Colorado. Wow, think about how many homeless and unwanted puppies and kittens 60,000 surgeries have prevented. (Particularly when you consider there are still 2.7 million pets euthanized annually in the U.S.)

So how does the fund work?

It is quite easy.

On your Colorado tax return form simply enter the amount you wish to contribute on the voluntary contributions schedule. The State of Colorado will forward the amount you designate (no amount is too small) to the Pet Overpopulation Fund.

Your donation will enter the collective which helps to fund local coalitions of veterinarians, humane societies, animal care and control agencies, and community groups to perform spay and neuter surgeries in underserved areas of the state. Low-income San Miguel, Ouray and Montrose County residents benefit from this program because Second Chance Humane Society applies for and receives funding from CPOF each year. These funds support both of Second Chance’s spay/neuter clinics and spay/neuter voucher programs.

Another cool thing that CPOF has created is the Adopt-a-Shelter Pet License Plate Program. The next time you go in to register your car, purchase these sporty animal license plates – there are over 15,000 Adopt-a-Shelter-Pet license plates on the roads now! – and you will be funding this program too.

The License Plate Program began in 2011 and has generated over $1.5 million to spay/neuter and provide medical treatment and microchip identification for shelter animals. That has allowed animal welfare agencies across the state to be able to afford to spay/neuter pets before adopting pets out. Naturally that has a great impact upon reducing pet overpopulation in Colorado too.

Speaking of shelter animals, I would like to introduce myself. I go by the name of Spirit. I am a handsome, black, domestic short-hair cat of only six months of age. I experienced a scary start to life, so I am shy and timid at first. However, once I learn you are kind, I become a spirited love bug.

I get along well with other cats. My favorite hobbies are exploring, sun bathing and playing dominos. I missed the Valentine’s Day rush and am still here waiting for love to find me and whisk me away to my happily ever after…

Editor’s note: It’s no secret. The Telluride region is dog heaven. Well, pet heaven. Unless you are one of our furry friends who gets caught in the maw of neglect and abuse. Then heaven is on hold until Second Chance Humane Society comes to the rescue. Second Chance is the region’s nonprofit dedicated to saving animals’ lives and promoting responsible pet parenting and human-animal bond. In her weekly blog, executive director Kelly Goodin profiles at least one, generally two of the many animals now living at the no-kill shelter, Angel Ridge Shelter, a dog and a cat, hoping to find them loving permanent homes. The column is sponsored by Ted Hoff of Cottonwood Ranch & Kennel, who from time to time exercises his skills as a dog whisperer, partnering with Kelly and her staff to help train a particularly challenging animal.

Ted Hoff with Cabella & Wilbur

By the by, there is no better place to park your pup or get your pup (or adult dog) trained than Cottonwood whenever you head out of town (for locals) or are heading to town and staying somewhere that does not allow pets. Consider joining Ted’s Very Important Dog (VID) Club for added benies. (Details on Ted’s website.)

Second Chance Humane Society Animal Resource Center and Thrift Shop are both located in Ridgway, but service San Miguel, Ouray & Montrose Counties. Call the SCHS Helpline at 626-2273 to report a lost pet, learn about adopting a homeless pet, or about the SCHS Spay/Neuter, Volunteer, Feral Cat, or other Programs. View the shelter pets and services online: www.adoptmountainpets.org

Vetting the Vet: Dr. Michelle Dally, DVM, J.D. is Medical Director of Second Chance Humane Society. She also has a private practice, Dally Veterinary Medicine, 333 S. Elizabeth Street, Ridgway, Colorado. Her service area is  San Miguel Mesas, Placerville, Ridgway, Ouray, and Montrose. For more on Dr. Dally, go here.

Michelle & Wallowby