AURORA —Deb Brinkley has been saving dogs that are waiting to be euthanized for six years. She loads them in the car and takes them out to her all-breed rescue in east Aurora where she vaccinates them, fixes them, feeds them and finds them homes where they’re all given a second chance.
“This isn’t like a regular shelter,” Brinkley, 58, said. “We spend a lot of time with them, and we’ve got multiple yards that are big enough for everyone.”
is nonprofit, no-kill shelter on about 6 acres of wide open land with dozens of kennels, courses and agility tracks at 22351 E. Bayaud Ave. Brinkley started the rescue in 2008 after fostering dogs in her home for years.
“I just kept getting dogs,” Brinkley said. “I was fostering two and three and five and seven dogs, and then I thought, ‘I think I’ll just do my own rescue.'”
She moved to Aurora from Thornton in 2011 and began adding kennels. The cost of care got to be a little out of control, so Brinkley opened a boarding and pet daycare facility next to the rescue called
Cisco’s Den offers long-term care, an airport shuttle service and discounts for dog owners who have rescued their pets. The rescue dogs and boarded dogs are kept in different kennels.
“I transport dogs from other rescues, and I run the shuttle service to DIA,” said Marvin Pearson, 67, an employee. “Virtually every dog that we have would be euthanized if it wasn’t for this place. We get dogs from all over the country — as far away as the Bahamas. It’s an important cause.”
Right now, Brinkley and her team of part-time employees and volunteers are looking after 51 rescue dogs, and practically all of their bills are paid for through proceeds from Cisco’s Den.
“But there’s a shortfall,” Brinkley said, “Adoption costs are very low here, about $50 for dogs that are over 5 years old. And we vaccinate them and make sure that they’re all healthy and adoptable, and each adoption comes with 6 weeks of training.”
Food donations have been sparse this year, and adoptions have been slow. Brinkley’s veterinarian and spay and neuter bills are climbing over $10,000 and she’s worried.
Luckily, a private, Colorado-based foundation stepped forward two weeks ago and offered to help. The organization offered a in which it will donate dollar for dollar to DMK Rehoming if Brinkley can raise $10,000 by Dec. 31.
“We’re really hoping that that takes off,” Brinkley said. “I would be doing back flips if we could get this.”
Michelle Hudson, hospital manager at Happy Tails Pet Hospital at 24300 E. Smoky Hill Road, has been a partner of DMK Rehoming for two years. In that time, the hospital has cared for hundreds of Brinkley’s dogs.
“We do her vetting, we examine them all and take care of any illnesses that they may have,” Hudson said. “Deb has a big heart and what she does is really great.”
Many rescues take in pure breeds, and they’re very picky about it, Hudson said.
“She takes anything and everything — the ones that nobody wants,” Hudson said. “She really tried to care for everybody, and we do what we can to help her with that.”
Brinkley has found homes for nearly 400 dogs this year alone, but she says that’s still not enough.
“We’re at capacity right now, so we can’t take in anymore dogs that may be facing death row,” Brinkley said. “My true mission is to save the underdog, to give all dogs another shot at having a happy home because they all deserve that.”
Megan Mitchell: 303-954-2650, mmitchell@denverpost.com or twitter.com/Mmitchelldp
Dmk rehoming
22351 E. Bayaud Ave.
Call 303-366-0266
dmkrehoming.com
