Years of continued growth in Weld County, along with increasing pet populations and declining revenue, has left the Humane Society of Weld County incapable of meeting future demands, according to nonprofit leadership.
The board announced Tuesday it is dissolving the organization and transferring its assets to the Larimer Humane Society. As of Oct. 2, Larimer Humane Society will take full responsibility for providing animal welfare services to Weld County.
The transferred assets will include the Weld County animal shelter at 1620 42nd St. in Evans, which provides care and shelter to more than 4,000 pets in the community each year, according to the Humane Society of Weld County website.
Since the beginning of the year, Larimer Humane Society has collaborated with the Humane Society of Weld County leadership and city and county leaders to 鈥渋dentify more suitable options for animal services in Weld County,鈥� according to a news release from the Larimer County nonprofit.
鈥淲e are pleased to have formed this new collaboration with Larimer Humane Society, which furthers our commitment to the responsible relationship between animals and people聽 鈥� an essential component to a high quality of life,鈥� Weld County Sheriff Steven Reams said.
Judy Calhoun, CEO of Larimer Humane Society, said Weld County’s position as one of the fastest-growing counties in the state has led to increased use of the shelter. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of stray animals arriving at the shelter increased 23%, she said.
In the past few years, the Weld Humane Society has faced challenges with that growth, including increases in the pet population, declining revenues and limitations because of an aging facility, the release said. Due to these challenges, the organization鈥檚 leadership has struggled to meet current demands and decided to dissolve the nonprofit.
鈥淲e recognized that Weld County was potentially at risk of losing some of these essential services,鈥� Calhoun said. 鈥淲e really felt that it was important that the residents of Weld County shouldn’t lack those essential services when we have the capacity to support them.鈥�
The Larimer Humane Society, founded in 1969, is the largest animal welfare organization with a mission dedicated to homeless and abused animals in northern Colorado, according to the release. As a nonprofit and leader in animal welfare throughout northern Colorado, Calhoun said, the Larimer Humane Society has the ability to be fully committed to fulfilling its mission, which has historically provided services beyond county lines.
A recent Weld County animal hoarding case called for the help of the Larimer Humane Society, which aided in removing 174 dogs from a Roggen property. The nonprofit transported the dogs for disbursement to local shelters.
鈥淚 really truly believe we have the experience and the expertise, the resources and the capacity to make this happen,鈥� Calhoun said. 鈥淭his is not Larimer Humane Society coming into Weld County and saving the day, this is really working with the community.鈥�
Larimer Humane Society鈥檚 role of assuming responsibility for animal services in Weld couldn鈥檛 be done without the community鈥檚 support, according to Calhoun. As the nonprofit works to keep resources available to Weld residents, she said, community feedback is critical.
The Larimer Humane Society wants to hear from Weld community members on what programs and services they鈥檙e interested in bringing into their community, Calhoun said. In addition, all services provided by the Humane Society of Weld County 鈥� sheltering, adoptions, lost and found services, pet microchipping and more 鈥� will continue under Larimer鈥檚 leadership.
Kara Englert, board president of the Humane Society of Weld County, believes Larimer Humane Society鈥檚 leadership in animal welfare will open the door to more programs and services that will better suit the needs of animals in Weld.
鈥淲e are confident in their capabilities and optimistic their operational know-how, coupled with the efficiencies of one organization serving multiple communities throughout northern Colorado, will result in more vital programs and services that heal, nurture and protect companion animals and our communities well into the future,鈥� Englert said.
Larimer’s transition into Weld
As the two nonprofits transition, Larimer Humane Society expects new services to be completed in phased implementations.
The Larimer Humane Society team will work with staff at the Humane Society of Weld County to maintain operations until Oct. 2. During the four-month transition, the Larimer Humane Society also plans to offer financial support.
So far, the support to Weld has included supplies, counsel, animal transfer and animal intake, according to the release.
Planning efforts to address the growing long-term needs for animals in Weld is also underway by the Larimer Humane Society. The aging infrastructure of the current Weld shelter is one of the major challenges to address, according to Calhoun. She said a long-term project for Larimer Humane Society leadership is to build a new shelter with community input and support.
In the meantime, the months leading to October will consist of Larimer Humane Society helping to make some necessary and previously deferred maintenance updates to the current shelter such as improving the HVAC system, the roofing, kennels and safety and security.
Calhoun emphasized her gratitude to the leadership of the Humane Society of Weld County, as well as numerous municipal leaders, for providing confidence, support and trust in the Larimer Humane Society to provide an essential service to the community.
The Larimer Humane Society plans to hire about 35 additional staff members for the Weld County facility. Calhoun encourages the current employees of the Humane Society of Weld County to apply for open positions.
鈥淲e’re honored to be able to draw on that experience and fill what would have otherwise been a significant service gap for the residents of the county,鈥� Calhoun said. 鈥淲e look forward to learning from the community, delivering the best outcomes and serving Weld County for many years to come.鈥�
