FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this alliance going to track examples of where the big shelters fail, and if so, how will that info be used to help animals going forward?
This is not a component of the alliance mission. Our focus is to target the lifesaving of our members, not the performance of other animal welfare organizations.
How is the alliance going to do to help small rescue/shelters?
We recently learned how incredibly powerful it was when multiple groups came together on a shared issue. So an alliance is a gigantic benefit to us all.
The alliance programs and members will come together again, to support each other by putting the following goals into practice.
Every one of SARA’s established goals (CLICK HERE to see them) help Colorado rescues and shelters
What makes this "movement " any different than other movements as far as an agenda?
SARA is not a movement. It is an alliance to support PACFA organizations to better serve homeless pets in Colorado. We are not asking that organizations use any designation to identify themselves. We do ask them to work to save every healthy or treatable homeless pet in Colorado.
That said, SARA will stand against legislation that we identify as endangering the lives of Colorado’s healthy and treatable pets and support or present legislation that protects them
In terms of the mission & goals how do we define the term “treatable”?
You do not have to be afraid of the word treatable. For a comprehensive look at treatable, you can look at the Animal Evaluation Matrix
We will encourage organizations to “Raise the Bar” on what is treatable if they are considering “untreatable”. With an alliance, that can use dozens of organizations to lean on, we should be able to help save more treatable pets together. And not have treatable be dictated by regressive organizations that drive most of COlorado’s animal welfare standards.
Will the alliance require participating organizations state that they are No Kill shelters?
No, but we will ask our members to commit to saving every healthy and treatable homeless pet they take in their care..
What is the benefit of joining the alliance?
Having partners to rely on should be the biggest benefit. Like opposition to the recent legislation, some of the groups participating have already come together saving 45 cats together in Olathe Colorado. Others are working in Fort Collins to save a dozen cats in need of a home, and yet another group is working on helping cats in an abandoned building in Denver.
SARA helped 40 dogs in Pueblo be given a second chance when a person was overwhelmed by a lack of resources to spay neuter and care for them. SARA partners pulled 30 and found them loving homes. All were Spayed/neutered, vaccinated, got a med check, and were fostered. The remaining dogs were also Spayed/neutered and vaccinated to insure this event does not repeat itself.
A team with varied resources and skills can better address the above situations versus a single organization working by itself. Each member will have skills that others can learn from. We can pool resources (volunteers, resources, equipment, money) to better serve our communities.
SARA members received more than $50,000 in donations in the 1st 18 months through their affiliation with the alliance. These funds came from No Kill Colorado to save Colorado pets in need.
Future legislation could result in a Colorado shelter/rescue becoming increasingly able to kill animals without consequences. If you worry about your animals who may end up in a shelter getting killed, the time to join SARA and assist with preventing that from happening is now (well before the legislation is introduced).
What is its main purpose?
It’s an alliance to support PACFA organizations to better serve homeless pets in Colorado.
Can anyone join or only orgs opposed to SCS?
Any organization looking to save Colorado's homeless pets can join. See requirements at bottom of page.
Do you have to be PACFA licensed to join?
No. As an example, trainers are not PACFA licensed and we hope many trainers will join the alliance. Medical facilities, veterinarians and companies that have the desire to help homeless pets would be welcome. Many non-PACFA organizations and businesses support SARA’s mission.
Are there any requirements or fees involved?
No fees are planned at this time.
Requirements and Expectations for Alliance Coalition Members
You cannot purchase any animals from commercial organizations (direct to puppy mill, backyard breeders, breeder auctions, etc.). This is cause for immediate termination from the network and can only be reinstated by a governing committee appeal.
Before you go out of state to transfer in a homeless pet, we ask that all members check the Colorado network to see what is available IN Colorado that fits your mission.
In order to allow SARA to better understand your organization and how you can help other members maximize lifesaving in Colorado, we ask that you complete the membership form in its entirety.
Is SARA saying do not transfer from other states?
Absolutely not.
Colorado actually needs to transfer from other states.
Colorado needs to transfer tens of thousands of pets to keep retail from flourishing.
At the same time, we are encouraging (but not requiring) we look inside Colorado first. If there is no cat or dog nearby and available to you, you should always help our Colorado neighbors.
We transfer in 45,000 cats and dogs annually. Somewhere between 10-20% of those are healthy and treatable. Could we all say we will try to look locally before planning to pull from out of state? If we did, Colorado would save every healthy and treatable homeless pet overnight and in perpetuity.
Again, it is not a requirement, but we will be encouraging members to look inside the state and inside alliance organizations that need help. And we need to think of creative ways to both save our local homeless pets and help our neighbors. We can do that better together.