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'Thank God there was a door' A safe harbor for stormy lives Animals love human volunteers Bean Project changes lives City Red Cross chapter helps victims of 300 blazes yearly Cops continue crusade for needy kids Dental clinic for kids delivers smiles Denver Partners find joy in mentoring Determination helps single mom Feast gives poor a meal fit for king Green thumbs, warm hearts help harvest hope for needy Homeless critters need Christmas, too Kids Cafes serve up sustenance Little white ball leads teen to turnaround Mentors help teens excel in school, life Musician strikes chord with mentors Once-homeless teen opens door Project Angel Heart's meals a blessing to Denver's sick Rape awareness program also emphasizes prevention Reach out by reading aloud to kids Recipient: Samaritan House help 'a miracle' Salvation Army long has helped the needy, especially at yule School's goal is personal growth Specialist helps keep Indians in class Students communicate, learn through dance moves Sungate helps abused kids survive confusion and pain
'Thank God there was a door'
A safe harbor for stormy lives
Animals love human volunteers
Bean Project changes lives
City Red Cross chapter helps victims of 300 blazes yearly
Cops continue crusade for needy kids
Dental clinic for kids delivers smiles
Denver Partners find joy in mentoring
Determination helps single mom
Feast gives poor a meal fit for king
Green thumbs, warm hearts help harvest hope for needy
Homeless critters need Christmas, too
Kids Cafes serve up sustenance
Little white ball leads teen to turnaround
Mentors help teens excel in school, life
Musician strikes chord with mentors
Once-homeless teen opens door
Project Angel Heart's meals a blessing to Denver's sick
Rape awareness program also emphasizes prevention
Reach out by reading aloud to kids
Recipient: Samaritan House help 'a miracle'
Salvation Army long has helped the needy, especially at yule
School's goal is personal growth
Specialist helps keep Indians in class
Students communicate, learn through dance moves
Sungate helps abused kids survive confusion and pain
By Carla CrowderDenver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer
Cages and cages of cats, litter boxes and all, line a room at the Dumb Friends League. "Joy of Giving" is a Denver Rocky Mountain News month-long campaign to make the holiday season a warm and joyful time for everyone, including animals. To donate to the Dumb Friends League, mails checks to 2080 S. Quebec St., Denver, CO 80231. Information: (303) 696-4941. Amazingly, it doesn't stink. OK, maybe there's a hint of cat-food odor lingering in the air, but it's tolerable. For that, we humans have Sandy Michaud to thank. And the cats, well, they're grateful to Michaud for even more reasons. "This is Chloe," said Michaud, introducing the petite 10-month-old gripping her shoulder. "She had a sister, and the sister got adopted so she's all by herself." Chloe declined comment for this story, but she seemed to be purring slightly. As a volunteer at the animal welfare agency, Michaud cuddles and grooms homeless cats, assists with adoptions and — bless her heart — cleans cat boxes. She even makes follow-up calls from home to make sure new cat owners are adjusting well. The Dumb Friends League employs 125 people, but volunteers are crucial in the ever-expanding array of services the league takes on. Known for housing homeless animals and finding new families for them, the Dumb Friends League is more than the place to go when you're looking for a furry companion. They spay. They neuter. They investigate animal cruelty. They teach school kids about caring for pets. They even compile lists of animal-friendly landlords for animal-loving renters, no small chore. Shih Tzus to shepherds. Mutts to maltese. Retrievers, hounds and more combinations than most people would care to imagine. That's just the dogs. Cats, rabbits, hamsters and birds also get help from the league. Last year, 350 volunteers put in more than 60,000 hours. Their work helped 7,432 dogs and 5,381 cats get adopted. More than 1,600 other lost pets were reunited with their families. Never in doubt that her services are needed, Michaud sometimes puts in 30 hours a week. "It's very enjoyable. I have extremely low blood pressure," said the soft-spoken Parker woman, wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and a ceramic pin of a jubilant cat leaping through a Christmas decoration. Not every shelter volunteer has time to be so dedicated to the homeless and stray animals waiting to be adopted. But that's OK. Three hours a week is what the league asks from volunteers, and a six-month commitment. And, recognizing that cat-cage duty is not for everyone, there are options. Volunteers provide foster homes for animals not quite ready to adopt. They help socialize the animals, petting and cuddling. They even do office work. Other kinds of contributions — pet food, money — are also appreciated. Communications Manager Lani Kian said the organization was modeled after a similar agency in Britain. When founded in 1910, people called those who could not speak dumb — hence the name, Dumb Friends League. Part of the league's mission statement reads: "We shall be advocates for animals ... speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves." The Denver league considered changing the name, but there's so much name recognition here, it would have been counterproductive, Kian said. Contact Carla Crowder at (303) 892-2742 or crowderc@RockyMountainNews.com. December 18, 2000 NewsWeatherOpinionNationWorldSci/TechDeaths BusinessStocks Bank Rates SportsBroncosAvalancheNuggetsRockiesCollegeRockyPreps RecreationSnow Rept.HikingBikingFishingGolfCalendarDentry EntertainmentMoviesDiningMusicOn StageBooksTV Living Comics Health Food Home & Garden Family Travel Cookbook Births Weddings Crossword ClassifiedPlace an adAutoCareersHomes User Agreement / Privacy Statement © Copyright, Denver Publishing Co.Subscribe to the NewsQuestions? Comments? Talk to Us
Cages and cages of cats, litter boxes and all, line a room at the Dumb Friends League.
For that, we humans have Sandy Michaud to thank. And the cats, well, they're grateful to Michaud for even more reasons.
"This is Chloe," said Michaud, introducing the petite 10-month-old gripping her shoulder. "She had a sister, and the sister got adopted so she's all by herself."
Chloe declined comment for this story, but she seemed to be purring slightly.
As a volunteer at the animal welfare agency, Michaud cuddles and grooms homeless cats, assists with adoptions and — bless her heart — cleans cat boxes.
She even makes follow-up calls from home to make sure new cat owners are adjusting well.
The Dumb Friends League employs 125 people, but volunteers are crucial in the ever-expanding array of services the league takes on.
Known for housing homeless animals and finding new families for them, the Dumb Friends League is more than the place to go when you're looking for a furry companion.
They spay. They neuter. They investigate animal cruelty. They teach school kids about caring for pets. They even compile lists of animal-friendly landlords for animal-loving renters, no small chore.
Shih Tzus to shepherds. Mutts to maltese. Retrievers, hounds and more combinations than most people would care to imagine. That's just the dogs.
Cats, rabbits, hamsters and birds also get help from the league.
Last year, 350 volunteers put in more than 60,000 hours. Their work helped 7,432 dogs and 5,381 cats get adopted. More than 1,600 other lost pets were reunited with their families.
Never in doubt that her services are needed, Michaud sometimes puts in 30 hours a week.
"It's very enjoyable. I have extremely low blood pressure," said the soft-spoken Parker woman, wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and a ceramic pin of a jubilant cat leaping through a Christmas decoration.
Not every shelter volunteer has time to be so dedicated to the homeless and stray animals waiting to be adopted.
But that's OK. Three hours a week is what the league asks from volunteers, and a six-month commitment.
And, recognizing that cat-cage duty is not for everyone, there are options. Volunteers provide foster homes for animals not quite ready to adopt. They help socialize the animals, petting and cuddling. They even do office work.
Other kinds of contributions — pet food, money — are also appreciated.
Communications Manager Lani Kian said the organization was modeled after a similar agency in Britain. When founded in 1910, people called those who could not speak dumb — hence the name, Dumb Friends League.
Part of the league's mission statement reads: "We shall be advocates for animals ... speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves."
The Denver league considered changing the name, but there's so much name recognition here, it would have been counterproductive, Kian said.
Contact Carla Crowder at (303) 892-2742 or crowderc@RockyMountainNews.com.
December 18, 2000
