The organization known for more than a century as the Dumb Friends League rebranded to Humane Colorado in March 2025; the old web address, ddfl.org, now points to humanecolorado.org. It runs five Colorado locations, including the Harmony Equine Center for rescued horses. Here are the current adoption fees, surrender rules, and ways to help.
Yes. After 115 years, the Dumb Friends League rebranded to Humane Colorado in March 2025. The legal entity and tax ID did not change, and the former web address redirects to the new one, so gifts, records, and adoptions carry over. The old name came from a London charity and used dumb in its older sense of unable to speak.
Humane Colorado describes itself as a socially conscious shelter, a Colorado framework that commits it to assess the health and behavior of every animal and make placement decisions on that basis. It avoids both the no-kill and open-admission labels, and Wikipedia notes it reports one of the highest placement rates in the country.
Adoption fees are published and current as of 2026. The organization says it invests an average of $958 in each pet's care before adoption, which is why fees vary by age and species:
| Animal | Adoption fee |
|---|---|
| Kitten, 5 months or younger | $300 |
| Cat, 6 months to 1 year | $200 |
| Cat, 1 to 5 years | $110 |
| Cat, 5 years and older | $50 |
| Puppy, 5 months or younger | $350 |
| Dog, 6 months to 1 year | $250 |
| Dog, 1 to 5 years | $200 |
| Dog, 5 years and older | $100 |
| Rabbit | $45 |
| Guinea pig | $30 |
| Ferret, chinchilla, or hedgehog | $75 |
| Mice, rats, and other small pets | from $5 |
| Horses and other equines | $250 to $2,000 |
Adoption is walk-in through a virtual queue, with no application and same-day take-home. The queue closes at least an hour before each location shuts. The San Luis Valley Animal Center in Alamosa offers lower adoption prices than the metro locations.
Surrendering a pet is best done by appointment and carries a $50 fee, though Humane Colorado says it will not turn away an animal because the owner cannot pay. It accepts dogs, cats, small mammals, and equines, but not most wildlife or exotics.
The low-cost spay and neuter clinic at the Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur serves income-qualified pet owners. Cat surgeries start at $65 to $80 and dog surgeries run by weight from $165 to $325, with core vaccines included. Short-nosed breeds such as pugs and bulldogs are referred elsewhere because of their surgical risk.
The Harmony Equine Center in Franktown sets this organization apart. The 168-acre facility rehabilitates horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules removed by law enforcement in cruelty and neglect cases, then retrains and rehomes them, and it serves as a hub for other rescues across the region.
Volunteers start at 16 for most roles, and the standard ask is three hours a week for at least six months. Fostering runs through the Homes with Hearts program, which includes a phone interview and an annual virtual home check.
Humane Colorado says 82 cents of every dollar goes to animal care, education, and outreach, and it holds a four-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 100 percent score. Its EIN for tax-deductible gifts is 84-0405254.
Dogs, cats, small mammals, and horses across five Colorado centers.
A 168-acre facility that rehabilitates and rehomes abused and neglected horses.
Income-qualified surgery at the Veterinary Hospital at CSU Spur, vaccines included.
Subsidized care for owned pets of families who qualify.
By appointment with a $50 fee that is waived for those who cannot pay.
Homes with Hearts program supports temporary homes for animals in need.
Sources: Humane Colorado (humanecolorado.org) adoption, clinic, surrender, and Harmony Equine Center pages; the March 2025 rebrand announcement and CBS Colorado coverage; Charity Navigator (EIN 84-0405254); Wikipedia. Retrieved June 2026. We are not affiliated with Humane Colorado and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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