Programs and Services

Spay & Neuter Programs

The La Plata County Humane Society offers Free and Low Income Spay/Neuter programs. Assistance is based on TOTAL HOUSEHOLD annual income. Please review the following tables below to see which program you may qualify for assistance.

You must first bring proof of your annual income to the Humane Society. We will determine what sort of assistance you qualify for (if any) and collect any required fees. We will then set up an appointment for you to take your pet to one of the participating local veterinarians and we will provide you with a voucher for the surgery.

If your animal requires any extra care (vaccinations, medications, etc.) or is in heat, YOU will be responsible for paying any extra fees to the veterinarian. The Humane Society ONLY assists with the basic spay or neuter surgery cost.

Free Spay & Neuter Program

For those whose TOTAL HOUSEHOLD annual income is $25,000 or less, surgery is FREE.
Requires proof of income from such documents as pay stubs or tax returns.
Up to two animals per year can participate in program.
Humane Society notifies participating veterinarian for appointment, record date, and time on a voucher form.
Voucher must be presented to vet at appointment time.
Humane Society will reimburse the vet for the entire cost.

Low Income Spay & Neuter Program

For those whose TOTAL HOUSEHOLD annual income is less than $30,000 per year, surgeries are reduced.
Up to two animals per year can participate in program.
Humane Society notifies participation veterinarian for appointment, record date, and time on a voucher form.
Voucher must be presented to vet at appointment time.
Client pays a portion of the spay/neuter cost charged by the vet upon receiving application and approval. Client costs are usually $40 per spay and $50 per neuter.
Humane Society will be billed for the remainder of the fee.

Emergency Medical Loan

This fund is for pet trauma-related accidents

If you don't have money to pay a vet bill for a trauma-related injury, we can loan you up to $250 for bills. Funds are distributed monthly on a first come, first served basis. You are eligible for this loan if your pet was:

Attacked by another animal
Hit by a car
Fell from a great height

This is a LOAN (paid directly to the veterinarian)and must be repaid within one year (payment plan ok).

The following vet bills are not eligible:

teeth cleaning,
radiation treatment,
non-emergency surgeries

Euthanasia

The Humane Society offers euthanasia service to the public. Our specially trained, compassionate staff will perform the painless injection procedure in our private euthanasia room.

What is Euthanasia?

Family members may opt to say goodbye to their pet before the procedure or they may remain with their pet for part or all of the euthanasia process.

Make arrangements to take the pet's body home for burial, or choose from the Humane Society's disposal or private cremation services (for an additional fee).

The fee for euthanasia is $40.00 for cats or $50.00 for dogs.

Cremations

We have the only crematory for pets in Durango and we accept animals for cremation from veterinary hospitals and individuals.

Costs range from $50.00 and up, depending on animal weight.
Ashes of each animal are always kept separate and appropriately labeled.
The cremation process takes approximately 72 hours and owners or veterinarians are notified by telephone as soon as the ashes are available to be picked up.

Our caring staff strives to make this painful time less difficult
for pet owners.

Call 970-259-2847 for more information.

Animal Licensing
City	County
According to the Durango City Government Municipal code 4-56, all dog owner's are required to have their pet licensed. You must provide proof of rabies vaccination and procure a license for your dog. Licenses can be obtained at the La Plata County Humane Society north of Wal-Mart in Durango.	According to the La Plata County Government code section 10-86, all dog owner's are required to have their pet licensed. You must provide proof of rabies vaccination and procure a license for your dog. Licenses can be obtained at the La Plata County Humane Society north of Wal-Mart in Durango.
Spayed/Neutered dogs $5.00/yr. Unaltered dogs $15.00/yr.	Spayed/Neutered dogs $5.00/yr. Unaltered dogs $15.00/yr.
Licensing your dog registers him/her into our database of La Plata County dog owner's and allows the shelter to return your animal safely and quickly.

ID Tags

Making sure your pet has an ID tag on its collar is very important if your pet gets lost! The La Plata County Humane Society has a variety of tag designs that we can engrave on both sides.

Small tags - $7.00 plus tax
Large tags for $8.00 plus tax

Cat & Dog Collars/Harness/Leashes

Treat your new pet with a new Lupine collar, leash, and/or harness! We have an assortment of pattern style collars & leashes.

Collars- $9.00-12.00 plus tax
Leashes - $10.00-12.00 plus tax
Harnesses - $15.00-25.00 plus tax

Trap & Crate Rental

Live Trap Rental

$50 deposit required at time of rental
Rental fee is $5.00 per day for the use of the trap.
Trap can be checked for only (7) days.
If trap is not returned will result in forfeiture of deposit and will be held liable for additional costs incurred by the La Plata County Humane Society to replace or recover the trap.

Pet Carrier Rental

$30 deposit required at time of rental.
Rental fee of $5.00 a day for the use of carrier.
Carrier can only be checked out for only (7) days.
If carrier is not returned will result in forfeiture of deposit and will be held liable for additional costs incurred by the La Plata County Humane Society to replace or recover the carrier.

Courtesy Holds

The shelter will hold companion animals for a person residing at the Homeless Shelter if there is space available at the Humane Society. The individual must abide by rules of contract when placing an animal in our facilities.