5 Best Lab Rescues For Adoption In Colorado

Labrador Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States and for good reason. They are loyal, intelligent, and loving companions. Labs are also terrific for families with children. If you are looking for a new furry friend, a Labrador Retriever is a great option.

5 Best Lab Rescues For Adoption In Colorado

There are several Lab rescues in Colorado, but the following are some of the best and most reputable.

Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue

The Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue is an excellent option if you are looking for a Lab in Colorado. This rescue dedicates its time to finding homes for abandoned, abused, and neglected labs. Most of the labs in their shelter come from high kill shelters in Colorado.

The Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue has several adoptable labs, ranging in age, size, and personality. They also have a foster program if you are not ready to adopt but would like to help a lab in need. 

Fostering a lab gives you the opportunity to provide a home for a lab in the meantime until they are adopted. You’ll need to fill out a fostering application prior to approval. 

One Thing To Appreciate

One thing to appreciate about the Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue is that they take the time to get to know the labs to understand their needs better. 

It allows them to find the perfect home for each lab. When one is ready to adopt a lab from there, they will get to know the following about each lab.

• Demographics
• House Trained
• Association with Other Dogs and Cats
• Children
• Leash
• Personality
• Story
• If They are Currently Being Fostered

Overall, the Rocky Mountain Lab Rescue is a great choice for anyone looking for a lab for adoption in Colorado. They are passionate about their work and take the time to get to know each lab. This allows them to find the perfect home for each one.

Safe Harbor Lab Rescue

Safe Harbor Lab Rescue is another incredible option for anyone looking for a lab in Colorado. Founded in 2002, their team has rescued close to 5000 labs to date. The organization operates as an all-volunteer establishment which means that no one receives a salary. 

Instead, all donations go towards the care of the labs. Safe Harbor Lab Rescue has many adoptable labs, all of which have been spayed or neutered. They also provide microchipping and vaccinations for all of their adoptable labs.

One Thing To Appreciate

One thing to note about this Safe Harbor Lab Rescue is that they do not have a physical shelter. Instead, they rely on a foster family group and partnering boarding facilities to care for their labs. This means that they are always in need of foster families.

One can also fill out an application ahead of time to start the adoption process even if they don’t have a dog that meets the lab’s qualifications yet. It makes the process easier and helps the lab get placed in a forever or foster home much faster.

Retriever Rescue of Colorado

Retriever Rescue of Colorado was founded by an all-volunteer rescue organization that wanted to focus on finding forever homes for any retriever breeds. They started out with the goal of saving 30 dogs per year which never happened. Within months, they surpassed that number.

To date, more than 2000 dogs have been saved. The Retriever Rescue of Colorado receives more than 200 pups each year. They are also considered one of the largest volunteer-based organizations in Colorado.

One Thing To Appreciate

One thing to appreciate about Retriever Rescue of Colorado is that they don’t discriminate in the retrievers they accept. They will take in any retriever breed, whether it be a golden retriever, Labrador retriever, or even a mixed breed. They even accept senior labs and dogs with health issues for adoption.

Lifeline Puppy

Lifeline Puppy rescues dogs from five states within the Rocky Mountain Region. They rescue dogs from 33 shelters to prevent euthanasia and have saved over 44,000 lives to date.

Lifeline Puppy began in 1993. Though they rescue all breeds, one can find Labs for adoption there. Once a dog is taken from a shelter, they receive vet care to ensure they are healthy. They are also spayed or neutered, microchipped, and updated on vaccinations.

One Thing To Appreciate

One thing to appreciate about Lifeline Puppy is its no-kill policy, a form of animal control that works to ensure euthenasia is off the table for their available pets. Once a dog or puppy enters their organization, they stay there until they find a home. Dogs and puppies are never put down because they are considered “undesirable.”

The staff at Lifeline Puppy are passionate about their work and take the time to get to know each dog. They also utilize foster homes for their dogs, ensuring they are taken care of and given the love they deserve until they find a forever home.

Mile High Canine

Mile High Canine’s goal is to reduce the number of abandoned, neglected, and abused dogs in shelters in Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico. They help pets find loving foster homes and eventually forever families.

The organization is run entirely by volunteer animal welfare enthusiasts who work to provide health care and happy homes. While they do not have a physical shelter, they gladly accept all breeds of dogs, including labs.

One Thing To Appreciate

One thing to appreciate about Mile High Canine is that they are a full circle rescue organization. They understand that adoption is not the only solution to pet overpopulation. They not only rescue dogs but spay and neuter them, check for medical conditions and find them loving homes.

The organization also works with their community to raise money to sponsor pet care and educate people on responsible pet ownership and how they can help lower the pet overpopulation problem.

The Perks of Adopting Rescues

There are many benefits of adopting a rescue dog, including:

• Rescue dogs are usually already housebroken and know basic commands.
• Rescue dogs have usually been spayed/neutered and have all their shots.
• Many rescues offer a trial period so you can make sure it’s a good fit before committing.
• Rescue dogs are often grateful for their new homes and love unconditionally.
• Rescues help reduce the number of homeless dogs in shelters, ultimately decreasing the number of euthanized animals.

If you’re considering adopting a lab, please consider a rescue dog! Many great organizations are passionate about their work and would love to help you find the perfect dog for your family.

You may also like: Top 4 Labradoodle Rescues in Texas – Puppies for Adoption

Adoption Fees to Consider

The cost of adopting a rescue varies per organization. Some charge a flat rate for all pets. Others charge a higher fee for your younger dogs and a lower price for senior or special needs dogs. 

Many rescues also require an adoption donation which helps to cover the costs of spaying/neutering, shots, and other medical care.

Overall, the cost of adopting a rescue is usually much cheaper than buying a dog from a breeder or pet store. Not to mention, you get so much more out of the adoption process- a furry friend who loves you unconditionally and the satisfaction of knowing you saved a life.

Just be prepared to pay when you sign your adoption contract!

How To Get Approved to Adopt

Every rescue has different requirements for adopting a dog, but most will require an application form and/or interview.

Some things you may be asked include:

• Your name, address, and phone number
• Do you have any other pets? If so, what kind and how many?
• Are you prepared to handle a dog with special needs?
• Do you have any experience with dogs?
• Are you prepared to commit to taking care of this dog for the next 10-15 years?
• What kind of home do you live in (house, apartment, condo)? Do you own or rent?
• Do you have a fenced-in yard? If not, how do you plan to provide exercise for your dog?
• Do you have any children? If so, what are their ages?
• Is everyone in your household prepared to take care of a dog?
• Do you have any allergies to dogs?
• What kind of personality are you looking for in a dog?
• Do you have any preference in size, age, or sex of the dog?
• What activities do you and your family enjoy that a dog could join in on?
• Do you travel often? If so, how will you care for your dog while you’re gone?
• Are you willing to stop by for an adoption meeting?
• Are you willing to participate in an in-home adoption meeting?

The adoption process can seem daunting, but it’s essential to ask as many questions as you need to in order to feel comfortable with your decision. 

The information requests on applications help you choose the best pup for your household without adding unnecessary stress. The last thing you want to do is adopt a dog only to have it be returned to the shelter a few months down the road.

The bottom line is that rescue dogs make fantastic pets. There are so many great organizations that would love to help you find the perfect one for your family. 

Trust your gut- if something feels wrong at the time of adoption, it probably is. But if everything feels right, go for it! You’ll be glad you did.

Advice For New Pet Owners

Being a new pet owner, there is a lot to learn. Dogs are not like cats, who pretty much take care of themselves. Dogs need exercise, training, and, most importantly, love.

Here are a few tips to get you started:

• Set rules and boundaries for your dog and stick to them. This will help your dog understand what is expected of him and make housetraining easier.
• Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. A tired dog is a good dog. Dogs need to walk, run, and play. If you can’t provide this for your dog, maybe a pet isn’t right for you.
• Attend obedience classes with your dog. It is a great way to bond with your pet and learn how to communicate with each other effectively.
• Be consistent with your commands and rewards. Dogs learn best through positive reinforcement.
• Ensure your dog has plenty of toys and chews to keep him occupied and out of trouble.
• Read our article on crate training for rescues.

Wrapping Up

Did you enjoy learning about Lab rescues in Colorado? Owning a dog can be a lot of work, but it’s definitely worth it. Not only do you get a loyal friend for life, but you also get plenty of exercise and the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping to save a life. 

So if you’re thinking about adding a furry friend to your amazing family, please consider adopting from a Lab rescue in Colorado. You won’t regret it!

Let us know in the comments if this article is helpful to you on your journey to adopt a Lab.