With record increases in surrendered and lost animals arriving at Denver Animal Shelter (DAS) year after year, changes are coming to the shelter’s weekend schedule to give more time for folks to find new furry friends.
Beginning tomorrow, July 1, low-cost vaccine clinics move to Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The change allows DAS to add adoption-only services on weekends.
From 9-11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, DAS will focus only on pet adoptions, providing four additional hours of adoption time each weekend. All other services, including surrendering pets, picking up lost animals, owner euthanasia requests, permitting, licensing, and more, will operate from 11 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
So far in 2025, DAS has taken in 4,392 animals as strays, owner surrenders and transfers, compared to 4,107 at the same time last year. Intakes have risen significantly since 2019. In 2024, DAS took in nearly 10,000 animals, representing a 13% increase from the previous year and a 45% increase from the pre-pandemic benchmark of 2019.
“The number of lost, unwanted, injured and mistreated animals arriving at DAS continues to grow each year, and we are finding there just aren’t enough hours in the day to adopt out these wonderful pets to people who want them. Clients would come to the shelter later in the day, register, and then find that there wasn’t enough time for them to visit with an adoptable pet because of the large number of people we serve day in and day out. These additional adoption hours each weekend will give our staff extra precious time to find even more forever homes for our deserving furry friends,” said DAS Director Melanie Sobel.
If you'd like to make a loving home for a deserving animal, check out our adoptable pets. You can also view our lost and found animals, who may soon become available for adoption. In July, dogs over 1 year old and over 50 pounds are $50, while cats over 1 year old are $40. Adoption fees include spay/neuter surgery, vaccines, a microchip and a one-year pet license.
New Business Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. - All services
Tuesday/Thursday: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Vaccine clinic only
12:30 - 6:30 p.m. - All services
Saturday/ Sunday: 9-11 a.m. - Adoptions only
11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. - All services