That's nearly five dogs surrendered to the one shelter every day of 2025 — and the situation is only getting worse. Dog surrenders at the City of Denver's shelter are up 237 percent compared to the same period in 2019, according to city data. That year, there were 544 surrenders total; a number 2025 surpassed weeks ago, around four months into the year.
Just five years ago, dog surrenders at the shelter were on a steady decline, reducing annually from 2018 to 2019 to 2020, before seeing a spike in 2021 during the second year of the pandemic. Since then, they've jumped by between 26 percent and 42 percent every year. They're on track to do the same in 2025.
Hannah Metzger offered the sad statistics in an installment of this week's series, "Has Denver Gone to the Dogs?" In their comments on the Westword Facebook post of the story, some readers offer reasons why owners might give up their pets...while others suggest that no excuse is good enough. Says Todd:
Adopting a dog is a lifelong commitment. It’s not something you give up when it gets inconvenient. I’ll be homeless on the streets before I give up my dog.Comments Mark:
Send the owners to the pound.Offers Lisa:
So sad. Dogs are so loyal and deserve a commitment for their lifetime. The excuses of “no time,” etc., are ridiculous.Responds Breann:
It's a bigger problem than just shitty owners. Pet rent, pet deposit, pet discrimination. High-rent prices. Landlords not wanting pets. Then the cost of living. We are going to see more and more of this.Adds Jennifer:
Prices to care for pets have outgrown salaries just like everything else, sadly. I feel this must be contributing. For example, a well visit for my 14-pound dog has increased to $330, when last year it was $150. No, she isn't now considered a senior and yes, I price shop!Replies Heather:
This should go on someone’s public record.Offers Cindy:
People who don’t have the integrity to take care of their pet responsibly deserve to be labeled “irresponsible." Drop their humanity credit score!!! You’re doing a poor job representing the human race.
I blame people who fail to plan. Fail to estimate the amount of attention pets need, failure to plan the cost, and failure to plan ahead in life in general. It's like having a child— if you're not financially capable or mature, then don't have one or five, period. So many people lack impulse control.Suggests Jeff:
Minimum credit scores or proof of income should be a requirement before getting a pet. Poor people can’t take care of themselves, let alone an animal.Counters Kerri:
I don't want to hear it. I was homeless for five years, living in motels because VA homeless shelters wouldn't take my dogs. I kept them and they had toys and food and vet visits. I found a way. Now I have a four-bedroom home and have dogs, cats, bearded dragon, parakeets...Says Amy:
People suck. Every dog and cat we've had were rescues, but it breaks my heart to leave so many behind.Concludes Rick:
Adopt for life or don't adopt at all.What do you think is causing the increase in people giving up their pets? Post a comment or share your thoughts at [email protected].
(And to the commenters who suggest that these pet-surrender stats contradict the notion that Denver has gone to the dogs, note that half the residents of this city have dogs, while fewer than 20 percent have children eighteen or under.)
