Hundreds Of Animals Pour Into Colorado Shelter Following A Wave Of Heartbreaking Hoarding Cases
Some weeks are quiet at animal shelters. Others? Pure chaos. And lately, for the team at Riverdale Animal Shelter in Brighton, Colorado, it’s been a whirlwind.
During an average summer, the shelter usually takes in around 400 animals. But in just the past six weeks, that number has more than doubled, a heartbreaking and overwhelming surge they never expected.
One after another, they’ve been stepping into heartbreaking hoarding cases, and the number of animals needing help has exploded beyond anything they’ve ever seen.
In just one Wednesday alone, more than 100 animals were rescued from a single property in Adams County. You can imagine the scene: cages, clutter, frightened little faces peeking out, hoping for someone to care.
It’s the kind of sight that breaks your heart and makes you want to hug every single one of them. Sergeant Shea Haney of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office shared in an interview:
“Upon execution of the search warrant, they seized about 101 animals from the property. Sugar gliders, some rats, a hedgehog, snakes.”
And that wasn’t even the only case. In just two months, the shelter has responded to five large-scale rescues, an unprecedented streak.
Usually, they’d have around 375 animals by the end of summer. Now? Over 540 are in their care. Haney added:
“It’s not common. It’s not common at all.”
That’s hundreds of paws, tails, and whiskers all needing food, warmth, and love. And somehow, the Riverdale team keeps saying yes.
The shelter staff hasn’t done it alone, though. They’ve had the community step up in a huge way. Fosters, adopters, and donors have all shown up, proving just how much people care when animals are in need.
One of those helpers is Marion Lorenzo, a longtime foster mom who’s taken in more than 50 animals over the past two years.
She knows how hard it is to say goodbye each time, but she also knows what it means for them: a second chance, a real home, and maybe a couch to nap on for the first time. She said:
“When I have to surrender them, I pray over them, and I tell them, ‘You’re going on to your forever home.’”
And then there are people like Evelyn Fisher, who stopped by hoping to finally find the kitty she’s been dreaming about, sharing:
“I’ve been wanting a kitty so bad for a couple months now. I think it’s a great place to go to, especially since so many animals have been coming in with all the hoarding and everything.”
The shelter has also been flooded with donations: food, blankets, toys, small gestures that make a big difference when there are hundreds of mouths to feed and hearts to heal.
It’s been exhausting, emotional, and inspiring all at once. But every rescue reminds them why they do it.
So if you’ve ever thought about adopting, fostering, or even just donating a bag of food, now’s the time. Riverdale Animal Shelter could use a little help keeping up with all the love they’re giving out.
After all, every one of those animals deserves a soft bed, a safe home, and someone to call their own. Lorenzo added:
“It’s important to foster and also to adopt. They want a good home. They want somebody to love them and take care of them.”
Every act of kindness, no matter how small, helps these animals start a brand new chapter filled with hope and love.
