Longmont, Colorado, is a city of 86,000 people located north of Denver in Boulder and Weld counties. The Longmont Humane Society (LHS) serves as the municipal shelter for strays who are taken in by Longmont Animal Control or found within the city limits of several nearby towns, including Frederick (population 9000).
LHS split off from the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (HSBV) several years ago. According to a representative of HSBV, Boulder County Animal Control takes strays to Longmont that are picked up in the unincorporated area of the county near Longmont, whereas the rest of the strays in the county go to HSBV. According to the representative, Longmont and HSBV both receive strays from the nearby town of Erie (population 6000).
LHS accepts owner surrenders from its service area, but states that it may ask owners to wait if the shelter is full. It charges a small fee for surrenders. It also accepts owner surrenders from outside its service area, including out of state, if space is available.
LHS reported a live release rate of 87% in 2011. In December of 2011 the shelter announced the appointment of Liz Smokowski as executive director. Ms. Smokowski has a master’s degree in business administration. The shelter’s 2012 annual report stated that in 2012, Smokowski’s first full year as director, LHS increased its live release rate to 94% and decreased its cost per animal by 10%. The report stated that over 850 active volunteers supplied 60,895 hours of service. LHS also submitted a report on 2012 statistics to the state of Colorado, and this report shows a 94% live release rate as well.
The shelter has posted full statistics for 2013 on its website. LHS took in 3536 cats and dogs in 2013, an increase from its intake of 3430 cats and dogs in 2012. Its live release rate improved to 95%. If owner-requested euthanasia and animals who died or were lost in shelter care are counted in with euthanasias, the live release rate is 93%. The 2013 annual report noted that LHS had taken in 238 animals displaced by severe flooding in September of 2013.
Longmont, Colorado, was originally listed by this blog on May 4, 2013, based on its 2012 statistics. This post is a revision and update with 2013 statistics.