GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. – After almost nine years at the helm of Roice-Hurst Humane Society, Chief Executive Officer Anna Stout plans to depart from the organization this spring. The organization’s board of directors has begun a nationwide search for a successor. Stout’s impactful tenure has been defined by her focus on leading a groundbreaking, people-centric animal welfare model and transforming the organization into a stable, nationally recognized industry leader. In 2015, Stout accepted a position as Roice-Hurst’s Interim Executive Director during a time when the shelter was on shaky financi ..read more

While she may be nearly 11 years old, Faith’s life has just begun. At this time last year, she was living in a home with 36 other dogs in inhumane living conditions. When she arrived at Roice-Hurst Humane Society, her fur was matted, both eyes were badly infected, she was skinny, dehydrated, and lethargic, and she had just one rotting tooth remaining. Of all her housemates, Faith was in the worst shape. At Roice-Hurst, Faith was freed of her mats, given crucial vet care, fed nutritious meals, and had her painful tooth removed. She was still too frail to undergo her spay surgery, so Faith and h ..read more

At 7 months old, Rocket was found as a sickly stray and tested positive for parvovirus, a serious infection that is often fatal in puppies. With funds generously given by our community, Rocket was hospitalized and received around-the-clock supportive treatment to carry him through the most vulnerable moments of his life. After a rocky few weeks and more than $3,000 in vet bills, a triumphant Rocket emerged from isolation as a survivor and was lucky enough to be adopted by the most loving family! On Rocket’s first day out of his isolation room, he went to the James Lout Photography st ..read more

On Friday, January 5, a stray puppy that was found and brought to our shelter tested positive for parvovirus. Since then, two presumed siblings have also tested positive — and we need your help. To protect the rest of our pets from illness, we are implementing changes to the shelter this week. All new intakes and on-site adoption showings will be postponed through Tuesday, January 16. We are working to move all of our healthy, adoptable pets into foster homes, so if you’re looking to adopt this week, you can still adopt a pet from foster care! Browse adoptable pets at rhhumanesociety.or ..read more

October 29 is National Pit Bull Awareness Day, a day to celebrate the sweet, squishy blockheads of the dog world. Here at Roice-Hurst Humane Society, we love our pit bulls! Most days, you’re almost guaranteed to find at least a few pitties waiting in our kennels or foster homes to be adopted. In recognition of National Pit Bull Day, let’s review some facts and bust some myths about these lovely dogs. 1. The breed ‘pit bull’ is not actually a recognized breed by the AKC. Pit bull is an umbrella term is used for dogs who are short and stocky with boxy heads. Recognized breeds that are often lump ..read more

Although every day is the perfect day to celebrate your dog, National Dog Day offers yet another opportunity to treat your dog a little extra special than an average day. On August 26, 2004, National Dog day was created by animal advocate Colleen Paige to provide an opportunity for all dogs to be celebrated and loved, but also to bring attention to the dogs in shelters waiting for their loving homes. Need some inspiration on how you can make the most of National Dog Day this year? Here are just a few of our favorite ways to celebrate! Adopt a new family member: When it comes to changing a she ..read more

As creatures with emotional, mental, and physical needs, our beloved dogs truly are a daily commitment – and this is especially true for brand new pups! We love them wholeheartedly and wouldn’t want things any other way, but it can sometimes be complicated for working professionals to balance caring for their dog while meeting the demands of a full-time job. Here are some tips for balancing both sets of responsibilities. Adopt a Dog Appropriate for Your Lifestyle If you don’t already have a dog in your life, make sure that when the time comes to add a furry friend to your family, you sele ..read more

Kitten season is officially in full swing! Kitten season is the time of year between spring and fall when cats most frequently give birth. A feline pregnancy lasts for about 64 days, which means that they can have multiple litters per kitten season, with litters typically between 3-8 kittens. With so many kittens being born, animal shelters across the country are flooded with tiny felines – and there are ways that you can help! Foster kittens! One of the most effective ways to help shelters during kitten season is to sign up as a kitten foster home. Fostering is a temporary arrangement in whi ..read more

The 4th of July is just around the corner, which means now is an important time to prepare for the safety of your furry friends. Booming and shrieking fireworks can cause pets to become frightened, disoriented, and startled, and many will try to escape. Even if your pet is usually calm and unfazed by commotion, you never know how an animal will react in an unexpected stressful situation – often climbing over fences, ripping through window screens, and bolting away from home. Before this holiday weekend, ask yourself the following questions to help keep your pet safe: Does your pet have an ID ..read more

Because of the diverse landscape across our state, we often forget that our beautiful home of western Colorado is actually classified as a desert, as evidenced by our hot, dry summers. If you live here, you know that this region offers incredible recreation like hiking, biking, and other outdoor excursions that just aren’t complete without the company of our canine friends! But before you hit the trail with your dog this summer, keep these tips in mind to keep your companion safe. Know the signs of overheating in dogs. Heat exhaustion is when your pet’s body temperature gets too hot and their ..read more